Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lennar, one of the nation's leading homebuilders, has announced the start of sales at Morgans Meadows, offering five new home collections and premier amenities at a competitive price. The new Lennar homes will sit within the 250-acre Morgans Meadows masterplanned community, located in the western suburbs of metro San Antonio.

"Our new homes at Morgans Meadows offer all the benefits buyers look for, including beautiful floorplans with designer touches, the latest technology features, and premier community amenities. Students will attend great schools, and families will have access to close-by conveniences that make life extra enjoyable," said Lennar Division President Brian Barron. "It will be a wonderful place to make a lifetime of memories."

Homes at Morgans Meadows range from 1,016 to 3,036 square feet, with two to five-bedroom plan options. The home exteriors are designed with a selection of siding, brick, or a combination. The one- and two-story designs are from Lennar's popular Cottage, Watermill, Barrington, Brookstone, and Westfield collections. Each features generous living and kitchen spaces and resort-style master suites.

All homes are ENERGY STAR certified and come with Lennar's signature Everything's Included program, where the homebuilder's most popular options and upgrades are built into the base price of the home. At Morgans Meadows, this includes granite countertops, designer cabinetry, GE stainless steel appliances, and a host of other carefully curated interior touches.

Pricing begins in the $200,000s.

Residents of Morgans Meadows will have exclusive access to the community's future pool, park, and playground.

Morgans Meadows is minutes from neighborhood shopping centers, dining, and a short drive to attractions such as Sea World theme park, Medina Lake, and Government Canyon State Natural Area. It is also less than 20 miles from Lackland Air Force Base.

The award-winning Northside ISD School District will serve children living at Morgans Meadows.

The Morgans Meadows Welcome Home Center and sales office is scheduled to open this fall at 14233 Penny Run, San Antonio, Texas. For more information, call (210) 393-8095 or visit theMorgans Meadows Community Website orwww.lennar.com.

About Lennar Corporation

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughoutthe United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENXdrives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit lennar.com.

Contact: Danielle ToccoVice President CommunicationsLennar Corporation[emailprotected]Direct Line: 949.789.1633

SOURCE Lennar

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LENNAR INTRODUCES FIVE NEW HOME COLLECTIONS AT MORGANS MEADOWS IN SAN ANTONIO, OFFERING MASTERPLANNED AMENITIES AT COMPETITIVE PRICE - PR Newswire

Judging when to say no to a potential client requires confidence, diplomacy and tact. We asked five designersTodd Raymond, Kaitlyn Loos, Katie Davis, Kara Adam and Melinda Jameshow they gauge whether a client is (or isnt) the right fit.

Todd RaymondCourtesy of Studio Todd Raymond

Real Talk

We only turn down a client for a couple of reasons. One, they have an unrealistic schedule or time frame for us to complete the scope of work; or two, our aesthetics dont entirely align. Weve had some clients come to us with a very strong idea of what they already want, and [we] feel we wont be able to add our stamp to the project. Todd Raymond, Studio Todd Raymond, New York

Kaitlyn LoosCourtesy of Kaitlyn Loos

Pop Quiz

As a sensitive person and business owner, I am constantly thinking about what feels right for the client and myself. So when more internet strangers began inquiring about my services, I decided to set up a service match quiz to properly connect these prospective clients to the services that would work best for them. Its less about giving a no and more about finding a solution that works for both sides. Most people [that I encounter] today, regardless of property value, are not really needing full-service design. Im actually in a season of saying yes to a lot of one-day consulting or virtual projects, which see me helping volumes of people make key design decisions for their home but in a short amount of time. Kaitlyn Loos, Kaitlyn Loos Design, Ocala, Florida

Katie DavisMelissa Fitzgerald West

Fit First

We typically find out a prospective clients needs and wants. Our firm focuses on full-scale homes and spaces, and sometimes that doesnt work for a person or familys needs. We explain ourselves and, [if its not a fit, we] refer the client to another local designer who might offer a different scope or better suit their needs. Katie Davis, Katie Davis Designs, Houston

Kara AdamMichael Hunter

Hear Them Out

We are a more turnkey operationsoup to nutsso oftentimes people come to us to design just one room, and we have to turn them down. The vast majority of the work we do is a whole home. We explain our process and tell them we dont have the bandwidth or that its not the right fit. Even though everything is done over the phone, a personal touch is extremely important to me. For someone who is not a right fit as a client, we always hear them out and find out exactly what theyre looking for. Kara Adam, Kara Adam Interiors, Dallas

Melinda JamesJhane Huang

Honesty Hour

I rarely turn down a client unless I feel that it really wouldnt be a good fit for the firm, and that would be because there was a personality difference or the project was not compatible with the direction the firm is going in. When that rare occasion does occur, I believe honesty and integrity are always the best policies. Melinda James, M. James Design Group, Houston

Homepage image: A living room designed by Todd Raymond | Adrian Gaut

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How do you know when a client isn't the right fit? - Business of Home

Are future design movements rooted in the past? Sherwin-Williams would certainly suggest so. The Vintage Homestead Color Collection, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams' 2023 Color Collection of the Year has been unveiled and includes shades that draw from the romantic beauty and balance of a time gone by.

While the 'paint trend' label suggests these colors are exclusively modern and forward-thinking, the emerging collection is, in fact, influenced by heritage creating an aesthetic that is familiar in an individualistic way.

Darkroom (opens in new tab)(above) is the 2023 Color of the Year, and is described as 'an alluring and classic shade for an eclectic yet modern look'. It's a tone that epitomizes Vintage Homestead's ethos and we expect it will dominate paint ideas in the seasons ahead.

Natural Linen by HGTV Home and Sherwin-Williams

(Image credit: HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams)

'The Vintage Homestead Color Collection offers an effortless look that reveals the importance of being hopeful to find stability and balance,' says Ashley Banbury, the Senior Color Designer at HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams. 'Our 2023 Color Collection of the Year revives elements from the past that are perfectly paired with vintage, comfortable and classic colors.'

The shades encourage you to find contentment in your home, regardless of your style. Whether you're looking to trial new neutral living room paint ideas in a rural home or you want to add some retro color to your small urban kitchen. 'Sherwin-Williams offers a collection for homes that embodies hope, romanticism, tradition, nostalgia, and comfort,' the label adds.

Hot Cocoa by HGTV Home and Sherwin-Williams

(Image credit: HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams)

The palette features 10 reviving and comfortable colors, including Darkroom, which is the stand-out tone. While the spectrum of shades varies, the meaning behind each one unites them as a palette and creates the same sense of 'belonging' in your home. The collection also encourages us to rediscover the meaning of home, which translates into our wider decorating ideas.

'The combination of familiar tones has been thoughtfully curated by design experts who mix and match color and design from the past for a hopeful future,' they say.

Glamour by HGTV Home and Sherwin-Williams

(Image credit: HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams)

Other notable shades include Austere Gray (opens in new tab), which is 2023's solution to decorating with grey with an ever-fashionable green tint. We also love the vintage beauty of Glamour (opens in new tab), a shade that works seamlessly in the bathroom (as seen above).

The colors within the Vintage Homestead Color Collection are available exclusively at Lowe's store and on Lowes.com (opens in new tab). You can also find out more via HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams (opens in new tab).

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HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams' Color of the Year 2023 announced and it's all about nostalgia - Homes & Gardens

Of the thousands of considerations that go into designing a home, environmental impact is not often the biggest. But for design/build firm CarbonShack, sustainability is top of mind during the entire design processand now, with the debut of a new product line and showroom space, the company is hoping to bring that message into other firms projects as well.

Six years ago, Steve Pallrand founded CarbonShack to get serious about environmentally conscious design and construction. An entrepreneur and founder of Los Angelesbased design firm Home Front Build, which specializes in historic restoration, he had deep experience in the home-building arena. With the new entity, which shares overlapping services and team members, he was able to get even more specific and turn his focus to applying green design principles to projects from the ground up. Instead of returning old homes to their former glory, CarbonShack caters to clients with a more contemporary sensibility and an interest in addressing climate-related challenges in their own builds.

In practice, that meant addressing everything from embodied carbonthe emissions used during the manufacturing, transport, construction and end-of-life usage of construction materials, and how that relates to the wood used in a homes frame or the concrete in its foundationto applying passive concepts to maximize efficiency in energy, waste and water systems, such as tankless water heaters and energy-efficient windows, and interior design choices that incorporate sustainably sourced, healthy materials as well as aesthetics drawn from the natural world.

James Chou Photography

When finding sustainable and ethically made furnishings and decor proved challenging, CarbonShack came up with creative alternatives to typical procurement methods. Pallrands team has spent years researching and stockpiling sustainable materials, which are turned into bespoke pieces fabricated and produced by either the CarbonShack team or local artisans. That includes salvaged lumber collected from trees grown in Los Angeles that had to be cut down to make room for developmentor, in one particularly unique case, a redwood bridge built in Northern Californias Marin County in the 1920s that was recently decommissioned, allowing the firm to swoop in and find new life for the otherwise dump-bound materials.

The pursuit of sustainable materials inherently requires trade-offs. In sourcing materials for its products, the firm has sometimes compromised on its goal of keeping operations local to the Los Angeles area in order to curb energy expended in transport. For textiles, CarbonShack is primarily using hemp or hemp blends, which require a very low amount of water in fabrication and production compared to other commercially available fibers. To apply eco-friendly printing processes, however, the group must outsource to a company based in San Francisco. Similarly, the firm sources red clay for decorative tiles from the Sacramento area; the material is then shipped to Los Angeles and fired in electric kilns in order to avoid employing gas and other nonrenewable resources in the production process.

On a practical level, the products are designed to be healthy in the homeincluding furniture made with non-VOC finishes and entirely biodegradable fabrics. Taking that ethos into the aesthetic realm, many of them also feature organic physical properties. CarbonShacks 3D-printed lighting fixtures, for example, draw inspiration from the natural world by mimicking the features and patterns of microscopic organisms and plant-based systems such as mycelium, the rootlike structure of fungus and mushrooms. As the firms senior interior designer Greg Roth explains, the decision to bring nature-inspired elements into CarbonShacks home and product design is rooted in a desire to visually remind homeowners of their impact on the environment.

Even if we live near or in nature, we dont always understand our relationship to it, says Roth. As the climate warms and things get a little bit more fragile between people and the environment, we feel like underscoring that connection can help people keep in mind that we have a responsibility to be as green in the practice of constructing our homes as we can be.

The Medusa ChandelierNolasco Studios

The Mycelium Mod ConsoleNolasco Studios

Left: The Medusa Chandelier Nolasco Studios | Right: The Mycelium Mod Console Nolasco Studios

Beyond product design, the firm is constantly grappling with how to best bring sustainable design to the forefront of clients minds. CarbonShack made its first foray into expanding eco-consciousness in buildings and homes through the creation of open-source educational materials, including a free online carbon calculator for homeowners. Available on CarbonShacks offshoot site, SustainableBuild, the feature allows homeowners or professionals to input data to determine how many pounds of carbon a space produces each year. From there, users can also find out how much carbon they can conserve by switching to alternative energy systems or appliances.

Roth says he is beginning to see the tide turn when it comes to carbon-friendly home preferences in recent years. For example, many homeowners have shifted toward induction cooking and electric kitchens, while previously they tended to prefer (and romanticize, he says) the carbon-heavy process of cooking with gas. More than ever, homeowners and designers alike want to make greener choices, says Roth. The problem is that many just are not aware of which choices in the design and construction are the most sustainable.

If the firms own exploration of that same issue can serve to lay groundwork for future sustainable design seekers, then the company is eager to guide others down the path it has forged so far. To that end, CarbonShack is making its materials available to fellow design professionals with a new showroom set to debut in Los Angeles on October 6. There, the offerings will include a variety of home productsincluding lighting, textiles, decorative tiles, cabinetry, furniture, accessories, woodwork and metalworkall made locally or within an environmentally conscious distance of 400 miles through energy- and waste-efficient manufacturing processes.

We are offering these products as an entry into becoming greener and more conscious of what we can do, says Roth. If you buy a lamp from us, and it costs a hundred dollars or even several hundred dollars, thats not committing to changing all of your windows to high-efficiency windows, right? But its one thing that you can do, putting in this beautiful LED fixture that reminds you of the environment, that sets you on a path that were hoping can inspire people.

Homepage image: Mycelium fabric from CarbonShack | Nolasco Studios

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How this firm is helping clients cut carbon emissions - Business of Home

EVEN if you spend a fortune on rugs, furniture, and accents, the wrong styling choices can make your home look cheap.

According to interior design experts, the solution is an easy fix follow a few simple rules to elevate your home's interior fast.

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Decor experts at Homes and Gardens shared five mistakes that can ruin the look of thoughtful home decor.

Luckily, the solutions don't require a lot of money to fix.

"Even if you are decorating on a budget, there is no reason for your space to look cheap," the experts wrote. "In many cases, the things that lead to a house looking cheap aren't even a reflection of wealth."

Take a look to see if you're guilty of these design sins in your home and learn how to fix them.

For example, the size of your furniture matters a lot more to the price, especially if the room is noticeably smaller or larger than others in your house.

"Disproportionate furniture will make a house look cheap, almost like you threw whatever you had together and hoped it would work," designer Amy Youngblood told the outlet.

Tiny furniture in a gigantic room will make it look empty, as though you can't afford enough furniture to fill it up.

Meanwhile, furniture that's too large will crowd your space, making the room look small. A mixture of disproportionate furniture is visually confusing.

"Figure out a good balance of positive and negative space to help the flow of the room," Youngblood recommended.

Use the same principle to clean up your walls, too. "This can also include artwork if it is disproportionate on the walls of the space," she said.

Your furniture isn't the only home decor area where size matters. Choosing the wrong-size rug can also be detrimental to your interior design.

A rug that's too small could be what's "off" in your living room, the experts warned.

You can trust their genius guidelines to make sure you buy the right rug for every room.

"For large living rooms, it's best to leave at least 12 to 18 inches of visible floor space between your large rug and wall," said Therese Germain, director of core product at Ruggable.

"To unify the area, try to ensure that the front legs of your sofa and lounge chairs sit on the rug and overlap it by a minimum of 8 to 12 inches," she added.

For open-floor spaces, pick a sharply-contrasting rug that will be distinct from the floor.

This will draw focus, which creates a visually-designed space and makes even an open floor plan feel intimate, she said.

IKEA is a great budget buy, but don't go overboard securing every piece in the MALM or EKTORP series.

In fact, matchy-matchy pre-made furniture will leave your home looking cheap and outdated more "dorm room" than "designer."

The experts at Home and Gardens recommend sourcing inexpensive secondhand furniture instead of going to the big-box stores for flatpack furniture.

Your unique pieces are often more affordable than brand-new furniture from a discount store.

"They will also be sturdier and will inject personality into your space," the experts explained.

"Plus, you can rest safe in the knowledge that the piece you buy has already survived decades in the home and is likely to continue for many more to come," they added.

But IKEA furniture still has a purpose, so don't throw out your drawers and shelves.

The inexpensive brand can "prove invaluable in hidden spaces, such as garages, to provide plentiful storage," the experts wrote.

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If you've lived in your home for a while, you might have completed piecemeal renovations that have left inconsistent flooring around your home.

That can be a big aesthetic eyesore, warned designer Jennifer Walter.

"Inconsistent hard surface flooring like LVT and laminate in different rooms will make a house look cheap," she told the outlet.

Mixing laminate flooring and real wood is also a cringe-worthy mistake. Follow Walter's one simple rule to avoid it.

"Pick one color, and use it throughout," she recommended.

Walter also reminded homeowners to be cautious when picking a color scheme for their floors.

"Grays in wood alternatives tend to make a house look sterile and staged," she said. "It can make a house look cold and unnatural."

Stick with warm, bright, natural colors for real and faux wood and above all, be consistent.

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then your windows are where the soul of your home resides that's why it's important to showcase them.

But the wrong curtains can leave a bad impression to visitors, whether they enter your home or not.

Interior designer Christian Ladd warned that unlined curtains look flimsy and unkempt.

"We always line drapery four times so that they are finished and visually appealing even from the exterior of the home and always do so in a soft ecru or bone rather than white," Ladd explained.

This might be an often-overlooked area, but it's the best place to start if your house needs an instant upgrade.

"Above all else, draperies are the single most effective way to elevate a home," Ladd said. "When finished impeccably and include details such as hand-sewn passementerie, they instantly create a more custom, elevated feel."

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Im an interior designer 5 things that make your home look cheap & why IKEA furniture should NEVER mat... - The US Sun

Looking for the answer to the question how often should you wash your sheets? Slipping between fresh sheets is one of lifes pleasures, but how long can they stay on the bed before fresh becomes funky and a change of linen is required?

You might also be wondering if there are different rules if you or someone in your home suffers from asthma and allergies, and when youre sick. Concerns about energy use come into the picture, too, as more laundering means bills are inevitably going to be higher.

Greatlaundry room ideas make sheet washing an easy and efficient task but, to determine the ideal frequency, we posed the question how often should you wash your sheets to experts, and this is what they told us.

You should wash your sheets weekly. Washing bed sheetsis part of the routine ofcleaning a bedroom, but for many people that doesnt equal weekly. A survey by a textile company found that 44 per cent of Americans wash their sheets only once or twice a month, says Becca Fair, certified sleep science coach and editor of MattressNerd (opens in new tab).

Are they getting it wrong? Heres what sleep, hygiene and fabric experts advise.

Like washing pillows, washing sheets is a necessary task, but what does laundering them actually do?

The reasons for laundering bed sheets are based on restoring the appearance, reducing the risk of deterioration of the textiles from the buildup of oils and soils, reduction in the buildup of dust and dust mites, and reducing the buildup of microbes such as bacteria, fungus, and viruses, explains board certified dermatologistand functional textile expert Erum N Ilyas, CEO and founder,AmberNoon (opens in new tab).

How often you should wash your sheets will depend on some individual factors, which well talk about below. But there is a guideline. As a general rule, its medically beneficial to change bedsheets every one or two weeks, says Christine Kingsley, advanced practice registered nurse and the health and wellness director of the Lung Institute (opens in new tab).

Sheet material could influence how often its best to wash your sheets. It is true that oils can be more attached to some fibers such as polyester, says Erum N Ilyas. Some fibers may actually add to warmth while sleeping leading to more sweat produced.

But fabric doesnt make a difference on the whole. Overall, similar laundry practices can likely be maintained, she says. However consideration should be given to individual factors such as a tendency towards hot flashes that may impact the need for more frequent washes.

And while fabric isnt generally a factor in how often you should wash your sheets, color is. Obviouslywhite or light sheets show soil and contamination more thana darker linen, says Wayne Edelman, CEO of high-end dry-cleaning serviceMeurice Garment Care (opens in new tab).

If you, or someone in your home, has asthma or allergies, err on the side of washing more often. Finding yourself constantly suffering from a runny nose and sneezing, or, in severe cases, wheezing or having difficulty breathingcould hint that you have to replace your sheets more frequently, says Christine Kingsley.

How often to wash sheets in this case? At least once a week is a good rule of thumb, says dermatologist Dr Cory Gaskins of Best Botox (opens in new tab). This ensures that your sheets are free of dirt, dust, and other allergens that can cause problems for people with allergies or asthma.

Allow animal companions on your bed or they get on there anyway? More laundering is the rule.

If you have pets, you may need to wash your sheets more often, says Dr Cory Gaskins. Pets can track in dirt and other things from outside, so its important to keep on top of the laundry if you want to avoid any extra work down the line.

What you wear (or dont) also counts. Something so silly as wearing a PJ or no PJ makes a huge difference, says bedding expert Anki Spets of New York City-based Area Home (opens in new tab). Having a layer between you and the sheets means less washing.

Bed sharers also need to take into account their fellow sleeper with more frequent washing on the agenda if someone is a warm sleeper or has an oilier skin type, say Susanne Martinez, VP of product development, and Alicen Soli, senior designer,atluxury bedding company SFERRA (opens in new tab).

Sickness in the home means you should up the frequency of washing. If someone in your household is ill, its important to wash your sheets more often than usual, says Dr Gaskins. Aim to wash them at least twice a week. If possible, wash them immediately after the person feels better.

Youll find plenty of recommendations about washing bedsheets every week, but this isnt necessarily the case. Unless you eat in your bed, have pets that shed, or stay in bed all day, once a week is too much, says Anki Spets. You have to keep in mind that washing and using detergent and dryers breaks down natural fibers.

Dr Cory Gaskins agrees, although there are exceptions. You should wash your sheets every two weeks, he says. If youve been sweating in them, then you should wash them sooner. However, if you dont sweat much, and youre not allergic to anything, every two weeks should be fine.

Erum N Ilyas notes that the once-a-week recommendation is a popular one, but that how you wash sheets is also crucial. From a textile care perspective this makes sense to create a schedule to routinely remove oils, soils, debris, dust, and other sources for buildup on sheets, she says. But she adds, Bear in mind that this does require ideal laundering practices of not overloading the laundry machine and dosing detergent appropriately to ensure that the agitation of the sheets and the temperature chosen for the wash can work ideally.

Unwashed sheets wont bring bed bugs into your home. However, frequent sheet washing will give you the chance to spot an infestation and call in the professionals to rid your home of these pests.

Keep your bedroom as uncluttered as possible and dont put bags and other items down on the bed to help avoid an infestation.

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How often should you wash your sheets? And the health risks of getting it wrong - Homes & Gardens

DESIGN DISPATCH Our daily look at the world through the lens of design. BY THE EDITORS August 19, 2022

Telfars debut sportswear collection. Image courtesy Telfar

The Design Dispatch offers expertly written and essential news from the design world crafted by our dedicated team. Think of it as your cheat sheet for the day in design delivered to your inbox before youve had your coffee.Subscribe now.

Have a news story our readers need to see?Submit it here

Telfar Clemens, the Liberian-American designer, is known for his radical inclusivity, encapsulated by his slogan, Its not for you. Its for everyone. He only designs unisex garments and he deliberately prices his products to be more affordable than other designers. And now, hes bringing his vision to activewear, with a new performance collection, inspired by his work sponsoring and designing the uniforms for the Liberian Olympic team at the Tokyo Games last year. These pieces were engineered for sportswith compression, sweat-wicking materials. But the brand makes it clear theyre designed for both athletes and aesthetes, and will look good outside the gym as well. [H/T Fast Company]

After an almost year-long search, the City of Denver has hired Eugenia Di Girolamo, an architect whos currently the deputy director for urban design at the NYC Department of City Planning, as its chief urban designer. Di Girolamo will be Denvers first employee to focus exclusively on urban design. When the city announced the job opening last July, Community Planning and Development said the department was looking to elevate the role of urban design in preparing Denver for the future while preserving our historic buildings and staying true to Denvers heritage. Blueprint Denver, a land use and transportation plan adopted by Denver City Council in 2019, will serve as a guidebook for Di Girolamo. [H/T Westword]

In the Light of a Shadow by Glenn Kaino at Mass MoCA, the recipient of a grant from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. Photography by Tony Lounge/courtesy of Mass MoCA

The New Yorkbased philanthropic arts organization established by celebrated American abstract expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler announced today that it has awarded $3 million in grant funding to 49 visual arts institutions, including both museums and schools, for clean energy schemes, carbon footprint-minimizing building upgrades, climate resiliency projects, and related undertakings. The 49 visual arts institutions awarded during this second round of grant funding spans 19 states from Ohio (Cleveland Museum of Art) to Washington (Tacoma Art Museum) to Delaware (Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library) to Kentucky (Speed Art Museum) and beyond. [H/T The Architects Newspaper]

A five-percent royalty payment will be made to visual artists or their estates each time their work sells on the resale market. The scheme will come into effect in late 2024, Arts Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced at {Suite} Gallery in Auckland on Thursday. The royalty will be available to Kiwi citizens and residents, and will also operate on a reciprocal basis for residents of the United Kingdom and European Union countries, meaning Kiwi artists will get a slice of the pie when their works are resold there, too. [H/T Stuff]

Hanae Mori with her designs at the Iwami Art Museum in Hamada, Japan. Image courtesy the Yomiuri Shimbun

Hanae Mori, the Japanese couturier who emerged from the ruins of World War II on the wings of her signature butterfly to build a $500 million fashion house that popularized East-West styles and symbolized the rise of postwar Japan, died on Aug. 11 at her home in Tokyo. From a dressmaking shop catering to the wives of American G.I.s in what had been a bombed-out section of Tokyo, Hanae Mori (pronounced HA-na-eh MO-ree), the daughter of a surgeon, climbed to global fame in a 50-year career that brought fabulous wealth; the creation of 20 companies; palatial homes in Paris, New York and Tokyo; and remarkable standing for a woman in a male-dominated profession and society. [H/T The New York Times]

The race to acquire Tom Ford, the US designers eponymous label, is heating up. But, how much is the brand really worth, and should frontrunner Este Lauder buy it? Last month, Goldman Sachs was reportedly looking for buyers for the label, in a deal that could value the company at several billions of dollars, according to Bloomberg. Weeks later, Wall Street Journal reported that Este Lauder Companies was considering a bid that valued Tom Ford from at least $3 billion. [H/T Vogue Business]

Zara founder Amancio Ortegas personal investment firm is on a quest to diversify one of the worlds biggest fortunes away from linen suits, pearl-beaded handbags, and feathered sandals. Fueled by proceeds from his fashion empire, the billionaires family office, Pontegadea, has gone on a deals spree that shows no sign of abating. In the past year, it accumulated stakes in energy ventures worth more than $1 billion and spent almost $2 billion on real estate globally. [H/T Bloomberg]

Emmett, a finalist in the kids division of the USA Mullet Championships. Image courtesy of USA Mullet Championships

Meet the flamboyant finalists of this years USA Mullet Championship.

The late Karl Lagerfelds cat, Choupette, rings in her eleventh birthday.

Scientists discover that many cold-blooded animals simply dont age.

These next-gen telescopes will dwarf the resolution of the James Webb.

Link:
Telfar Brings His Vision to Sportswear, and Other News - Surface Magazine

Renovate or relocate? Priced out of perfect homes, homeowners are choosing to create them instead

The pandemic has made a lot of people reconsider where they live and what they want and need in a home.

In fact, nearly 40% of Americans are considering a move this year, and a third say the pandemic completely changed what they want in a house, according to a survey by Lending Tree.

If buying a new home isn't an option for you and youre finding your house doesnt suit your needs anymore, youve probably considered renovating.

Maybe you could take out a wall and create a more open space. Maybe refinishing the basement wouldnt be as hard as getting involved in the hectic housing market.

But theres a lot to consider if youre weighing your options between buying a new house and taking on a new renovation project.

The housing market is a confusing place right now. More houses are finally becoming available, but prices are still up 10% over last year, according to Redfin. And with interest rates rising, it isnt just hard getting on the property ladder now, its tough trying to move up it as well.

It's so hard to actually find the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, says Eric Finnegan, vice president of research and demographics at John Burns Real Estate Consulting, which delivers analysis on the housing market to clients such as builders, realtors and investors.

And that's just gotten harder since COVID. And for a bunch of reasons, its probably going to be hard for the next three to five years.

And despite the frenzied market or because of it many people are putting money into remodeling their homes.

Renovation activity and spending hit a four-year high in 2021, according Houzzs U.S. Houzz & Home Study: Renovation Trends. More than half of homeowners renovated last year, pushing the median spend on renos up 20% to $18,000.

Story continues

In 2020, Americans put $420 billion into remodeling their homes, according to the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of the Remodelers Industry 2022 Remodeling Impact Report.

And millennials are playing a big part in that.

One of the ways millennials are getting the homes they want is by creating them.

Normally, an entry level buyer would trade up to a larger home after about five to seven years, says Finnegan.

But his research shows many millennials are deciding to stay put, and remodel instead of moving. He calls it the trade up in place phenomenon.

Since it's so hard to find a house right now, they're saying, OK, I'm not going to actually do the trade up, I'm going to stay where I am. I'm going to plan on staying here another 10, 15, 20 years, and just upgrade everything.

But taking on a remodel comes with its own set of issues.

Finnegan says about one in 10 households is engaged in a large-scale remodel, and as demand for supplies and labor goes up, so does the cost.

Remodelers are basically having to raise their pay rates to their workers to keep them from being poached by remodelers across town, that's one part of the dynamic, says Finnegan.

Add to that supply chain disruptions, high demand for materials, and more recently, the high cost of gas and diesel.

Now [remodelers have] been booked out into 2023. So they're actually looking to just focus on this part of the market that can afford remodeling projects now. And so they're actually able to raise their prices, some of them for the first time in a while.

Waits for contractors are several months-long and quotes on pricing are changing all the time.

Normally, when a remodeler submits a quote, they'll leave it open for maybe 30 or 45 days because the homeowner is getting bids from a few different contractors, says Finnegan. That remodeler is shortening that quote window because their prices are going up.

The upside is that remodeling can add a lot of value to your home, and there are some projects in particular that see strong returns when it comes time to sell.

Refinishing your hardwood floors has a cost recovery of about 150% according to the remodeling impact report, while adding new hardwood floors has a cost recovery of nearly 120%. Insulation can bring you a 100% return on your investment.

Every dollar that you're putting in, you're getting back if you were to sell that home, says Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights at the National Association of Realtors.

On the lower end of the cost-recovery spectrum, adding a new primary bedroom has a 56% return, a new bathroom is 63%, while kitchen upgrades come with a 67% return.

Though those returns may not be realized for years, depending on when you sell, there is also a joy factor to be considered, says Lautz. The report also asks homeowners how much joy their changes brought them in their home.

Honestly, this year's iteration of the report, the joy scores were all a little higher, says Lautz. I think people are just happier to have this change, and do something with their home that really made them feel good.

There are ways to keep the costs of a remodel relatively low, says Casey Finn, founder and CEO of the DIY Playbook.

Finn and her husband remodeled their Chicago condo without any building experience. They renovated a bathroom, added built-ins and other customized touches.

We sold it within 24 hours, we got five offers, and an all cash offer; we went with that one, Finn says. And we made like $100,000, just by doing a lot of DIY and then selling it because people just didn't see anything else like that in the market, because everything was just kind of builder basic.

Now theyre now onto their second home in the Chicago area.

It's in a great neighborhood, but it was probably the ugliest house on the street, Finn says. And that's what we were looking for and we're like we see the potential here.

For the most part, Finn and her husband do a lot of the work themselves but hire out when they need to. For specialty jobs, such as electrical and plumbing, they hire out to ensure its done correctly with the right permits.

But when it comes to just cosmetic upgrades, or tiling, or woodworking, things like that, we take on those projects ourselves to save money, she says. And to just get the gratification that comes with doing projects yourself.

Finn says planning is the most important part of any project. The first thing she does is make a budget with a 10% to 20% buffer for whatever could go wrong.

People don't talk numbers. And to actually know that's how much a kitchen renovation is going to cost is really helpful.

It also helps you understand where youre saving money.

For example, we did some built-ins. And I got a quote from someone, I think it was like maybe $7,000 to do that. And I think we did it for about $1,500.

She adds that was before lumber prices skyrocketed.

We saved so much money doing it ourselves.

The internet these days is a treasure trove of information on DIY projects. Between Instagram, YouTube and blogs, theres almost nothing you cant learn.

I'm a blogger, but I read other people's blogs, and I say, Wow, that's how they did that build, I'm gonna put my own spin on it, says Finn.

Shes also not afraid to ask the professionals.

But theyve shared in the struggles of renovating during this time as well. After experiencing delays with a kitchen remodel, waiting for cabinets to arrive, Finn says she booked her contractor months in advance for help with a bathroom reno.

For Finn and her family, remodeling has been the right decision. She estimates they have added hundreds of thousands worth of value to their home over the course of their renovations, and thats not including the joy factor.

But we've also spent a lot of money too, she says. You can't expect to get every single dollar back, but when you're able to enjoy it, that makes such a difference.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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Renovate or relocate? Priced out of perfect homes, homeowners are choosing to create them instead - Yahoo Finance

Chef Andys Galley 57 to temporarily close, Black & Tan Grille will reopen

By Nick WoodActing Editor

For Andy Mueller, better known to Press Times readers as Chef Andy, the opportunity to partner with downtown real estate developer Steve Schneider to bring back the restaurant he helped found almost 25 years ago was serendipitous.

Black & Tan is, I believe, my single biggest culinary accomplishment as a concept, Mueller said. Twenty-five years later it still has staying power because its not a static menu it changes seasonally. Were really going to take an approach of sourcing as many things local and seasonal as we can get.

Schneider said when he teased the idea of Black & Tan revival on Facebook, the response was overwhelming.

He said there were three questions that came up: number one, who will the chef be; number two, can I get the original Black & Tan steak; and number three, can I use my old Black & Tan gift certificates.And so the answer to all of those questions goes back to 1998, Schneider said, referring to the chef, Mueller, the original menu and the fact that they will honor old Black & Tan gift certificates?

With that said, Mueller announced that his current restaurant, Galley 57 on Old Manitowoc Road in Bellevue, will temporarily close.

The last day will be August 27.

Gift certificates will be honored until close, and once the new venues get up and running, they will be honored at one of the new establishments, Mueller said.

The good news? Mueller is bringing his entire staff of 23 seasoned employees to the Black & Tan.Im fortunate and blessed to have the staff I have, because now theyre coming in here and all they have to do is learn the POS (point of sale) system and where things are, because theyve already got the service down. Theyve got the work ethic, theyve got the drive, the passion, the personality, everything it takes. Theyre absolutely amazing.

Its as close to a plug-and-play restaurant launch as there is, and they expect the staff to grow to around 60 by the end of September.

If there is such a thing as being seamless, I think were close. It never is seamless, but boy, if you think it could be? Thats a pretty cool feeling that youre not going in with a panic.

Meuller said the reason the partnership with Schneider is such a good fit is that a lot of times chefs have big dreams of owning their own restaurant and then get bogged down in all the details.

Thats when burnout comes, Mueller said. Enter Steve Schneider, who is known for his financial savvy, his business savvy, who enjoys those kinds of things, and now I can focus back on food.

And Schneider says until now, his team has lacked the experience and know-how in the restaurant business.

Why I havent been able to put this together in the last 11 years that Ive been fumbling around with restaurants is that you need someone with the experience and know-how and the ability to create a culinary team, and develop that team, and thats what Andy brings to the table, Schneider said.

In its former life, the Black & Tan had a bar area on the first floor of the Bellin Building, 100 S. Washington St., with the dining area on the second floor.

Thats about to change.

The entire second floor is currently under renovation and will add a new bar area, so everything will be on one floor.

But the pairs new venture, Schneider Mueller Restaurants, has aspirations far beyond relaunching the Black & Tan.

The Daily Buzz Espresso Bar, located on part of the first floor, is also part of the group.Plans are to expand it to the entire first floor and add a full service kitchen to offer another dining option, craft cocktails, and a more casual place to dining.

In addition to owning the entire Bellin Building, Schneider also owns the Vic Theater building, formerly Confettis Nightclub, along with most of the buildings on the 1000 block of Main Street, including the offices of his main business, Bug Tussel Wireless; the former Ralphs Antiques store; and he is expecting to close soon on the Ten O One Club building.

Were re-opening Black & Tan Grille, expanding Daily Buzz and reopening the Ten O One Club, and thats all before the end of the year, Mueller said. Black and Tan will be first, because its the closest to being ready. Daily Buzz expansion is going on now and its just a matter of how the dominoes fall with the kitchen remodeling and getting things lined up to open.

And the Ten O One Club plan has a few more details to work out, Mueller said, but its close.Its all part of the pairs long term plan to expand and diversify the downtown dining and entertainment scene.

What were doing is going to be iconic, Schneider said. Its going to be a destination project where people are going to be attracted from outside of Green Bay to come downtown. Were going to have something for everyone if you like a supper club, if you want fine dining, if you want a quick bite to eat or if you want a VIP experience, were going to have something for you.

Regarding price point, Schneder says you have to offer something for everyone, and welcome everyone no matter what they spend.

A historian at heart, Schneider recalls Otto Kaap, proprietor of the iconic Kaaps restaurant on Washington Street.

Whether you wanted a fine dining experience or a quick bite to eat, Kaaps had something for you.Even if you only had a nickel, Otto would sell you a pickle and welcome you in just like any other guest, Schneider said.

That kind of atmosphere, where everyone is welcome and everyone mingles, is exactly what Schneider and Mueller intend to recreate.

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New partnership aims to revive iconic downtown dining experiences - The Press-Times

As students return to school for the third full year of pandemic-era learning, President Joe Bidens administration is emphasizing robust vaccination and testing efforts as well as improved air quality to protect school communities from the COVID-19 virus.

The White House released a back-to-school fact sheet Aug. 16 with information on COVID-19 safety best practices and resources for districts as they begin another school year. The information came days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new COVID-19 guidance for schools, rolling back test-to-stay and quarantine requirements that guided school responses to the pandemic for the past two-plus years.

Under the new CDC guidance, schools are encouraged to let community considerations drive safety strategies, recommending masks only in areas with high community levels of virus spread. As of Aug. 11, 40 percent of counties, districts, or territories had a high level of the spread of COVID-19, according to the CDC.

In its fact sheet, the White House followed the CDCs lead, de-emphasizing the importance of masking and quarantining and instead focusing on vaccinations, testing, and air quality as major prevention strategies.

Im confident that with the support of the American Rescue Plan and other federal resources, we can keep all our children, all across the country, safe, healthy, and learning on the road to success, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.

School districts should have a robust plan to ensure all teachers and students who want to be vaccinated can do so, the White House said.

Vaccines are available for everyone 6 months and older, and boosters are open to every person 5 years and older. The White House suggests districts use vaccines as the first line of defense against the virus by ensuring students, employees, and families know their options. (The CDC and White House guidance do not recommend requiring that students be vaccinated against the virus, but rather instruct districts to encourage students to get vaccinated.)

The Biden administration plans to work with the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association to encourage members to get a COVID-19 booster this fall. The CDC has various resources, including a Booster Tool, a COVID-19 vaccines page, and Vaccines.gov, that all have information on who is eligible for boosters and how to access them. The AFT and NEA will also emphasize the importance of educators who are 50 or older getting their second booster if they have not done so.

The White House used the fact sheet as an opportunity to call on school districts to host vaccine clinics. Schools can use funding from the American Rescue Plan and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover the costs of vaccine clinics, and the CDC published its own guide for schools planning vaccination clinics.

In its new recommendations, the CDC scaled back testing guidance, removing the popular test-to-stay strategy, which allowed students to remain in class after being exposed to the virus if they undergo periodic testing. Instead, the health agency recommended diagnostic testing for anyone who is showing symptoms of the virus. It also recommended screening testing be used for high-risk activities, such as contact sports and early childhood education programs, for schools in areas with high community spread of the virus.

In its fact sheet, the White House emphasized testing as a strategy to protect students from the virus. The Biden administration plans to distribute 5 million over-the-counter rapid tests and 5 million swab PCR tests as well as additional point-of-care rapid tests to schools over the next year.

Districts can order the tests through January 2023, according to the fact sheet. Schools can also use funding from the CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity program, which provided $10 billion to K-12 schools to pay for tests, the fact sheet said.

Schools are still able to use American Rescue Plan dollars to pay for air quality improvements in their buildings. According to the fact sheet, the funds can be used to cover the costs of inspections, repairs, upgrades, and replacements in HVAC systems. The money can also go toward air conditioners, fans, portable air cleaners, and germicidal UV light systems, as well as repairing windows and doors.

The administration plans to collaborate with HVAC professional associations to provide expert guidance and technical support to improve indoor air quality at schools.

The U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Energy also plan to highlight school districts that are excelling in efforts to improve indoor air quality through the energy departments Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign over the coming months. The departments plan to release criteria for recognition in the coming weeks, according to the fact sheet.

The Environmental Protection Agency also has a set of resources that schools can use to improve air quality, including its Clean Air in Buildings Challenge and a guide for indoor air quality in schools. The CDC provides air ventilation guidance through its interactive school ventilation tool.

See the rest here:
White House Outlines Key COVID-Prevention Strategies for This School Year - Education Week