Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Small apartments have their own advantages - lower rent, proximity to bustling downtown areas, and an irreplaceable cosy charm. That is, assuming you know how to decorate.

No matter how small your space, it can still look stylish whether you own or rent. Whether you're starting out in a studio apartment or prefer a more minimalist lifestyle in your small Indian flat, you don't have to sacrifice style.

Here we've gathered our favourite 5 small-space decorating ideas to help you tackle your own.

1. Get folding pieces

Due to limited space availability, you can opt for foldable furniture as it will take lesser space and can be used smartly, allowing to make the house look more spacious and decent. It comes in a variety of designs and styles that can suit your home dcor. The type of furniture is lighter in weight and is easier to shift from one place to another.

2. Focus on lighting

In small spaces, multiple light sources are preferable to a single central source. The multiple sources can be distributed in such a way that the entire space is illuminated, leaving no dark corners. Consequently, it is best not to obstruct the path of natural light by eliminating unnecessary solid surfaces, like partition walls or screens.

3. Mirrors for illusion

Mirrors can help to make a room appear larger and more open. To create the illusion of depth, use a focal point and angle your mirrors toward it. Installation of a tall mirror will draw the eye upward, instantly making the room feel morespacious. Placing a mirror near a window to reflect the world outside is especially effective.

4. Choose a large rug

One large area rug rather than several small ones makes a room feel larger. While texture in a carpet is visually appealing, it can become overwhelming in a small space. Light-coloured rugs make a room appear larger and brighter. To begin, consider pale pastels, natural-looking neutrals, and off-white. Patterns, like texture, are visually appealing but quickly clutter a space!

5. Get creative with unexpected seating

A small living room can make entertaining difficult, especially if a large couch cannot be accommodated. Consider floor seating instead, which can be easily tucked away when not in use and provides extra seating for your guests when they come over. A lower seating or settee also creates the visual effect of higher ceilings.

With these revamp ideas,decorating a small apartment can definitely become easier.

Also Read:Amp up your home decor with THESE cute planters

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5 Home decor ideas that can give a revamp to your small apartment - PINKVILLA

KNX professionals Andy Ellis and Julio Daz Garca point out the pitfalls of an unsecure system, and how to avoid them by investing in basic IT skills.

If your KNX system isconnected to the outside world, are you sure its secure? If not, what are thepossible consequences? First, we talk to Andy Ellis about his experience of a recentevent where a KNX installation was hacked. We follow this with Julio Diazadvice on how to avoid this situation by employing proper IT mechanisms forcommunication.

What happens if yoursystem is not secure?

Andy Ellis: The first thing you would think of interms of a breach in security is the hackers ability to capture data from theKNX bus. I question what someone would do with this information, but the factis, without a secure KNX system, external sources may have access to thisdata.

Secondly, in an unsecure system, the possibility exists for a third party to send data to the system. With this comes potential for the programming to be corrupted, or worse still, for a particular component or components to be corrupted. Here I think it relevant to relay my experiences of recent events.

We had a call from a site that had lost all lighting control and, as it happens, heating as well. The site was well over ten years old and had been operating just fine before the event. Although a copy of the ETS file was available, there was no other documentation from the previous installer.

Establishing where the problem lies

Our first attempt to diagnose was over the phone and by email, and early indications were that there was a possible power supply or bus issue. A visit was required to take things further. A quick visual inspection showed that there were no mains breakers tripped, room controllers and switches were powered (they had active screens and or LEDs lit). The main distribution boards also had relays and dimmers with LEDs on in various states. Hmmm. So maybe its not a power supply problem. After checking the bus voltage and then powering down the power supply and isolating, it appears that the bus power is fine. Curious.

So what is connected to the bus? Perhaps there is a short, or some form of corruption. Further investigation shows an active IP interface and a third-party logic module (Ethernet-connected) and connection to a third-party automation system which has lighting and heating control available on its displays. Physical disconnection of these devices has no effect on the state of the system.

ETS diagnostics

So are we able to plug a laptop in and use ETS diagnostics? Well yes and aline scan shows quite a number of active components. Upon closer inspection ofthe properties of individual components, we find that certain items the onesthat are not working such as room controllers switches and dimmers have nogroup address table! Well that will be why they dont work then!

Further analysis reveals that these faulty components will not accept a programdownload as they have BCU pass enabled (but its not enabled in the program,and to the best of anybodys knowledge, never has been). The ONLY way tore-program these items is to perform a factory reset. And guess what? Amajority of the individual KNX components cannot be factory reset. The endresult is a site that is totally inoperable and requires many thousands ofpounds worth of new components to fix, plus of course the engineers/programmerslabour.

So what caused this catastrophic failure? I dont know, and in all probabilityI will never know. However, there is a very high probability that as the systemhad an IP interface with remote connection, some form of remote attack tookplace.

Lessons learnt: firstly, does your KNX system need to be connected to theoutside world? If you are considering this then what are the benefits? And ifyou do proceed with an IP connection, my advice would be to research andunderstand the full implications of a secure system. It may be that remoteaccess into your system to retrieve data is not as concerning as malevolent remoteaccess into your system with a view to altering the data in some way.

Howto make your system is secure if you have to connect your KNX system to theoutside world

JulioDaz Garca: First,I must underscore the principle that KNX is an open and secure technology.However, we must ensure that we apply the appropriate criteria and the toolsthat KNX Association and the ETS tool make available to us to guarantee thisprinciple. Being able to access facilities remotely is an advantage that KNXoffers and a necessity in many cases. In homes, for example, it makes life mucheasier for users in many aspects including supervision, remote modification ofsetpoints, reception of alarms and warnings, etc. For buildings, it can allow a24/7 remote maintenance when the manager, the proprietor or the integratorneeds to manage their facilities without traveling unnecessarily.

Ensuring safe access

Before commenting onwhat we can do to achieve a secure and remotely accessible installation, I haveto stress what should NEVER be done: allowing remote access through UDP port3671. This point is known to hackers and is equivalent to a red carpet forthese unwanted guests.

Another toolavailable to the integrator is the BCU Key, available for many years for allKNX devices (except the very old System-1 devices). My advice is that devices shouldalways be programmed with a BCU key since the attacker would have to guess thepassword among 4.29 billion possibilities. Using the BCU key is not a nuisance for theintegrator as the ETS never asks for it, if the original ETS project is beingused.

To allow safe accessto a KNX installation there are several possibilities:

1) Configure a VPNconnection on the installation router. This is the best option but can sometimesbe complex for regular integrators.

2) Use KNX IP gatewaysthat allow the configuration of VPN secure services such as OpenVPN, ZeroTier etc.

3) Use KNX IP accessdevices with encrypted communication.

4) Use KNX TP deviceswith IP (non-KNX standard) cloud connection.

5) For medium and big installations use a BMS platform witha KNX native driver that enables the secure integration and monitoring ofmassive KNX installations.

These methods areaimed at avoiding the scenario described by Andy at the beginning of thisarticle, which in my opinion is the most dangerous and currently the easiestfor hackers if the appropriate measures are not taken. Additionally, the use ofKNX IP Secure and KNX Data Secure devices in the facilities will solve anyadditional threat scenario that may arise.

Open, Secure andConnected

KNX Association offersa variety of information about the security of installations in the form ofbrochures, videos and webinars. In addition, KNX Training Centres offer KNX Partnersand others a range of helpful courses, including KNX Advanced training and thenew KNX Refresher training which include a chapter dedicated to dealing withall of the above topics. All of this is designed to ensure that KNXinstallations continue to be state-of-the-art, all over the world, whilstremaining open, secure and connected.

Andy Ellis isthe founder and managing director of Household Automation Ltd, and its sistercompany Knxion Ltd, providers of building automation consultancy, design,installation and aftercare services to clients who are involved in buildingresidential and commercial properties.

http://www.household-automation.co.uk

http://www.knxion.co.uk

Julio Daz is an Industrial Engineer and the owner of SAPIENX AUTOMATION, a Spanish company dedicated to engineering and consulting and a KNX++ Certified Training Centre with 25 years of experience in home and building automation and BMS solutions.

http://www.sapienx.es

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Security: the pitfalls of being hacked and how to avoid them using basic IT skills KNXtoday - KNXtoday

Wow, the liberal news media is telling us that things are bad under Bidenomics. While I was taking a few days off last week, I came across a story from Boise State Public Radio. You can follow it by clicking here. The worst inflation rate in America is right here at home. The Mountain West region clocks in at 8.6 percent! This isnt a good sign for Idaho shoppers.

I keep reading stories in other legacy media publications where writers explain President Biden cant do much about the rising cost of living. Im not sure hes trying to do anything. The news media can make all the excuses it can for their guy in the White House, but the voting public sees disaster.

Inflation could get much worse. Its also a worldwide issue, according to the Washington Post. Lumber prices are again soaring, which means any plans you have for building a new house will need to factor in additional costs.

Reporters mention many factors for skyrocketing prices. Blame the pandemic, labor shortages, and supply chain issues, however. Rarely do I see any mention of devalued currency. A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across a YouTube video about the number of dollars awash around the world. Two years ago, there were fewer than five trillion dollars in circulation. Today, the figure is over 20 trillion! Ive used the whiskey analogy before. If youve got a bottle of 80 proof on the tavern wall and you begin watering it down every night after closing, it doesnt take very long before youve got 40 proof.

I gladly spent the last government stimulus check (I paid off a debt). For the sake of my country, I dont need another.

READ ON: Here's how to apply for rent relief

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Idaho Leads the Nation When it Comes to Inflation - News Radio 1310 KLIX

interior

The world has evolved in many ways in the last few years. Our priorities have shifted and many of those things are reflected in our lifestyles, and a big part of that is how we look at our homes. Like the yesteryear, we will be witnessing a lot of sustainability and comfort when designing homes. People will be still looking for functionality, accessibility, and comfortability with a dash of style and substance, of course.

Interior designer Beena Amin of BA Design Studio shares, Nature in the form of indoor plants, the use of recyclable material and environment-friendly home products will be a top priority. Comfort and minimalist approach will be important since home offices will be sticking around for many people. People are going to love natural hues to make their home subtly colourful.

I have always believed that designs should not only be aesthetically pleasing but serve some utility as well.

In that sense, I would say open concept kitchens with butcher blocks will be more popular, due to the welcoming space they provide practicality as well. With remote working, more opportunity to spend time with family as well as home businesses, those stylised kitchens, previously an extension of the dcor, will be put to use more often for its inherent purpose, highlights interior designer, Sabiha Rita Hasan of Design 19 Studio.

Natural materials (such as wood, cotton silk etc) are in high demand as well as softer palattes. Comfort is key but there is still room for individual expression with custom made art pieces, as well as adding touches in the design that reflect the uniqueness of those living there. Focus tends to be on incorporating contemporary with classic as per needs and wants of each client, adds Rita.

Similarly, Karachi-based interior designer Ainee Shehzad predicts that there will be fusion between contemporary and classic designs.

According to Rita, the transformation from house to home lies in the story told by the accessories. They project the image of those living there and accent the language of design important to the people. They also convey a sense of finish to a design. Candles are being utilised more frequently than in the recent past and aromatherapy is more prominent in the form of stylish diffusers that fit within the design theme of a space with availability of diffusers at lower price points than ever before, Rita shares. The focus has shifted to green spaces which means clients are looking to bring the outside inside which means sprucing up their gardens and terraces or even balconies. There is also puts focus on outdoor spaces and outdoor design elements such as a small fountain, greenery etc.

Ainee foresees that home furnishings and accessories will be eclectic with a focus on darker tones for interiors. A lot diverse colours and textures in polishes for furniture will be in-vogue.

Textured prints and minimalist furniture designs will be preferred more over plain textures. Moreover, multifunctional and sustainable will be popular which could be customised. And round shapes will be winning hearts this year, suggests Beena. In terms of furniture, Beena notices that with the increase in the population, especially in city areas, the clients now prefer light-weighted and multipurpose furniture which may occupy lesser space and easy to move.

A quick way to spruce up your home is to change the colour scheme. For this year, Beena enthuses that shades of yellow will still be popular. Natural grey with green is also coming forth as an excellent colour combination choice, along with warm neutrals like cream, off-white and ash grey. Beena also tells that black is never outdated and neutrals with blue hues is a good option as well.

Ainee dubs that this year will be about darker tones and open spaces deep colours for upholstery. The colour schemes will be deep earthy colours on one side of the spectrum with hues of gold or silver and whites and greys on one end.

Certain classics are ever present such as white. However, with spring not far away, yellows and soft pastels certainly work in harmony with our weather and are great mood lifters. A special mention would also be to matte jewel colours, which are definitely more interesting than the charcoal greys that have become almost a reflection of the times, enlightens Rita.

Post pandemic design changes

All three designers agree that the pandemic has brought in a lot of change as clients are starting to focus more on functionality of the design. They want cosier homes and they are also realising the importance of tranquillity. Clients are also taking note of the environment and keeping a focus to utilise more sustainable materials in their homes. Ainee shares that now the focus is on patios and rooftops being made into places for hanging out and entertaining.

Moreover, since home offices are being designed in the living space, a wider area is now being divided into multiple portions to perform various tasks at the same place but with privacy, informs Beena. A corner as a comfort zone is decorated to enjoy privacy, soothing colour combinations are used to make the environment peaceful, and nature is now more in the house.

You do not want your living space to have the feeling of a movie set. A focus towards private spaces is definitely more in demand with the increased time spent at home. Constant interaction can be tiresome and a source for conflict given human nature. Social time is important but so is the need for your own space to whatever extent possible. I would say having the children or young adults their own space is something that is being given more attention. There is clever ways to provide privacy through design without necessarily increasing the physical space of the house. A good design will find ways to utilise what is already there, expresses Rita.

Trends to bid farewell to

Ainee says that heavy carving needs to go out this year. Whereas Beena tells that complex geometric pattern are now outdated the clients now want some simple, round and subtle designs. Multicolour themes also seem to be diminishing and warm neutrals are replacing all white theme.

Rita hopes that the move towards brass, marble inlays in black and white, and the grey-scaling of everything is something that is on its way out. I have incorporated more pewter silvers and hazy blues more recently. A clients preference is always the priority as everyone has comfort with certain colours and themes but I do believe as designers we should at least open up their imagination to something they perhaps did not think would work and then make adjustments according to their level of comfort.

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DESIGNING FUNCTIONALITY WITH A DASH OF STYLE - The News International

When the vast majority of your life is happening within the four walls of your home, every square foot counts. So the past two years have inspired some serious, space-saving creativity.

Everybody all of a sudden was just surrounded by their environment, just sort of thinking, If Im going to be spending this much time here, I really want it to be great quality space, says interior designer and HGTV host Vern Yip.

Oddly enough, one popular strategy for creating multipurpose spaces at home in 2022 is an innovation born more than a century ago: the Murphy bed, a fully made bed emerging from a wall to instantly transform a living room into a bedroom.

New Jersey-based interior designer Karen Topjian remembers seeing Murphy beds in old black-and-white Hollywood movies and thinking they looked wonderfully glamorous. It seemed almost magical, she thought. Unlike a sofabed that requires moving cushions and some degree of assembly, Murphy beds have the superpower of transforming a space with just a single motion.

Of course, the spring-loaded metal bed that nearly destroyed Charlie Chaplin in his 1916 short film One A.M. appeared pretty uncomfortable. Even the World War II-era models probably werent especially cozy, Topjian says, no matter how chic they looked in the movies. But technology has improved dramatically.

Today, she says, high-quality Murphy beds open easily and can be outfitted with high-end mattresses and lush bedding.

So when a client with a New York studio apartment challenged her to create a space where he could eat, sleep, live and work, Topjian designed a Murphy bed built into custom hardwood shelving, giving the compact living space plenty of storage and flexibility.

And the appeal of Murphy beds is moving beyond those who live in apartments. As the pandemic lingers, even people with larger homes are facing small-space living issues, says Heather Higgins, another New Jersey interior designer.

Whether elderly relatives are moving in or adult children are returning home, many people are puzzling over how to add extra sleeping space to existing rooms. Depending on the circumstances, a Murphy bed can be the solution.

Among its best uses:

MAKING GUESTS AT HOME WITHOUT SACRIFICING A ROOM

Interior designer Gonzalo Bueno has a meticulously planned home office in Dallas. Behind his desk, a dramatic black-and-white painting extends from floor to ceiling, flanked on both sides by built-in shelving.

For 90% of the year, he says, his office is laid out in exactly this way. But when relatives visit from Mexico, his desk is moved forward and that painting is pulled down to reveal a Murphy bed.

Its a better option than even the highest quality sofabed, he says: This is a queen-size bed a real bed. So its heaven for visitors. But for my 90% of the year, it just looks like a beautiful built-in with an art piece.

Bueno created a similar design for clients who needed a playroom for their children and a guest room for visiting grandparents. They didnt want older relatives sleeping on a sofa bed, but also didnt want to lose an entire room to a queen-size bed. One end of their playroom now houses a Murphy bed concealed within built-in storage.

Murphy beds can also be practical for single parents whose children dont live with them full-time. Bueno has a client who uses a spare bedroom primarily as a meditation space. But when his child lives with him, a Murphy bed is kept open and the room feels entirely like a bedroom.

HYBRID HOMES

Higgins says the pandemic is inspiring some city dwellers to shift to a smaller apartment so they can afford a second space outside the city. In cases like this, a Murphy bed can make the city space more manageable.

Topjian recommends mapping out the room with the bed open to make sure it wont feel too crowded. Make sure any furniture youll need to shift out of the way isnt too heavy or awkward.

If youll be using a Murphy bed as your primary sleeping space and opening it frequently, it helps to choose a lightweight memory foam mattress rather than a conventional model. And look for a good-quality one that lowers slowly and makes a soft landing, Topjian says.

Make sure your Murphy bed comes from a reliable manufacturer, the designers emphasized. The name was once trademarked, but has been used by a wide range of retailers since 1989.

HOME OFFICE IN A SPARE BEDROOM

For those who have converted a spare bedroom into a work-from-home office, it can be challenging to create a space that looks professional on video calls while still keeping a bed there.

People are paying a lot of attention to what their background is on video calls, Yip says. That little portion of your living environment that youre sharing now with the rest of the world what does it say?

A Murphy bed can offer the elegant appearance of wooden doors, rather than a view of a bed laden with pillows and blankets.

Beyond creating a work-friendly Zoom background, that can also help you concentrate.

You wouldnt want to be working all day seeing a bed next to you, Bueno says. It will just be too too tempting.

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Pandemic-era design solution from the past: The Murphy bed - Marshall News Messenger

New Construction Home in The PARC Community of Auburn University Club! Award winning construction will present residents the opportunity to enjoy an unmatched location for stylish custom & semi-custom homes. Pine Valley is located just minutes from the heart of downtown Auburn & Auburn University, granting residents convenient access to local fine dining, boutique shopping & renowned schools & City of Auburn Tennis. AUC Membership affords residents the opportunity to partake in championship golfing, state of the art fitness, relaxing pool & fine dining ~ contact AUC for initiation fee, membership fees & details. The Beech Plan offers views of the AU Golf Course and Lake w/ 4BR/ 3 BA Basement Home! Open Concept, Gourmet Kitchen, Solid Surface Counters, SS app, Designer Finishes, Spacious Covered Porch, Main Floor Master Suite w/lg walk-in closet, double vanities & super shower, 2 add'l main fl BR and bath 2, Basement Level w/lg Game Rm w/ Kitchenette & BR4 and Bath 3.

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Newly constructed houses you can buy in Opelika - Opelika Auburn News

The Keel, a converted former HMRC office block overlooking Liverpools waterfront, is billed as the solution to dull, impersonal renting. Tenants in the block of 240 new flats can fake a sun-kissed glow on video calls by dialling in from its new Zoom room. According to its interior designer, Jasper Sanders, the effect created by the tinted windows is a friendly nod to many Liverpudlians love of a year-round tan.

At the Wembley Park development in north-west London, renters can work from retro camper vans or sheds custom-made for home working.

Welcome to the fast-growing world of build to rent, an asset class that is shaking up the housing market, luring renters with the promise of more professional management than individual private landlords, and sucking in a flood of money, from banks, pension funds and even retailer John Lewis. Tempted by the prospect of stable returns, these blocks are developed, owned and operated by large companies with deep pockets.

Yet there is growing unease over the boom in this new class of rental property, with concern that the poorest in society will be priced out.

Rob Wall, a 34-year-old communication coach, moved to Wembley Park, the biggest build-to-rent complex in the UK, lured by the perks.

In return for pet-friendly but small apartments that come with communal benefits, such as gym access and a cinema room, tenants part with monthly rent starting at 1,770 (plus utilities of roughly 200 a month).

Developer Quintains all-inclusive package meant Wall no longer had to sort out his own utilities or arrange repairs. We dont have to be too hands-on with it, he says. As a drummer and football fan, its a real bonus being next to the SSE Arena and stadium.

Institutional landlordism is relatively new to Britain, but the sector has boomed as property prices spiral upwards, pushing the prospect of buying a home further out of reach for many. Build to rent now accounts for 20% of all new housing in England, a figure that rises to 40% for London, according to research consultancy Molior. Research from estate agency Ascend Properties shows that planning permission requests for build-to-rent units across the UK rose 52% during the pandemic.

For a long time, residential property hasnt been seen as a viable asset class; its really messy to manage, with huge operational costs, said Frances Brill, a University of Cambridge geographer specialising in build to rent.

But with interest rates so low, commercial property yielding shaky returns, and Britain facing a chronic housing shortage, it had become an attractive bet. Investors sense theres money to be made if youre able to provide quality housing, she said.

Well-established players such as US developer Greystar which last month partnered with Abu Dhabi in a 2.2bn deal to build London rental homes have led the charge. Macquarie, the Australian bank that stripped out huge dividends during its ownership of Thames Water, has set up a rental business, Goodstone Living. US private equity giant KKR is funding 4,000 luxury homes. High-street names such as John Lewis, Lloyds Bank and Legal & General (L&G) are also joining the goldrush. Lloyds plans to own 50,000 homes within a decade, under a strategy developed by new boss Charlie Nunn, the Financial Times reports.

Investors ploughed a record 4.1bn into the sector last year, according to property adviser CBRE. The boom is set to continue, as demand for rentals outstrips supply. In Leeds, L&G is turning Tower Works, the city centres Grade II listed former factory, into 245 rental apartments. Developers are also eying suburban areas, rolling out pet-friendly, larger homes designed to encourage longer-term contracts. L&G has announced a 117-home scheme in Peterborough for families seeking out-of-town properties with office space and gardens.

Experts say while interest from private equity firms comes from experience, the biggest draw for pension funds is they can raise the rent roughly in line with inflation. Dan Batterton, head of build to rent at L&G, said investors took about 4% from annual rent income linked to inflation. The need for housing makes the rental market less volatile, said Batterton.

For tenants, theres the promise of well-managed homes for people who cannot afford to buy, and are fed up with rogue landlords. In the UK, there are almost twice as many people looking for rentals as there are spots available a ratio that rises to 10 to one in Salford, according to research by insurer Admiral.

Especially in such a new market, a big pension fund cant afford to become known as an awful landlord, said Brill. No one wants to kick a granny on to the streets.

She sees Switzerland where 60% of households rent as a success story: pension-fund-owned housing there is well kept, with stable rents. Theres a glimmer of hope of what the UK market could be, if build-to-rent landlords actions are sufficiently regulated.

But not all communities can afford to buy into the lifestyle. While build-to-rent developers are obliged to provide nominally affordable homes, this doesnt mean they are building more social housing, said Brill. It doesnt address the affordability crisis, because its so expensive.

Homelessness charity Shelter has warned that build to rent is likely to be aimed at the higher end of the market, making it unaffordable to lower-income households. And while it has boomed during the pandemic, affordable housing starts fell by 16% in England in 2020-21, according to government data.

In Elephant and Castle, Londons Latin American quarter, a 3bn regeneration project including a big slice of build to rent is driving out the current population of social housing tenants. About 4,000 social housing units have already been demolished in the area, with many residents forced to move to suburbs more than six miles away.

Delancey, the developer best known for its partnership with the Qatari royals to buy and develop Londons former Olympic village, will replace the shopping centre with homes to rent. It has permission for 979 build-to-rent homes, of which 116 will be social housing. Its initial proposal, for just 33 affordable homes, was rejected by the council. Corporately branded and just streets away from the demolished Heygate council estate, the block, due to be completed in 2030, is a metaphor for the borough of Southwarks socioeconomic tensions.

With 16,000 households on Southwarks housing waiting list, families are often pushed into overcrowded properties. Down the road from the Delancey development, Milton, 53, his wife Cecilia, 50, and two children live in a private rented studio flat. They have been waiting on the council register for a three-bedroom flat for three years. Its been a very hard time, not only for me, but for my children since they translate for me and help me with the documents I present to the council, said Milton, who declined to give his full name. His children eat, sleep and do their homework in the same room.

Housing shouldnt be an asset, said Elizabeth Wyatt, from campaign group Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth. Good quality social housing, where communities can thrive and build roots, should be a right.

Southwark council said: The 35% affordable housing offer, which included 116 social rent homes, was the maximum we could reasonably secure for the Elephant and Castle development. We are committed to providing 2,500 new council homes across the borough by May 2022.

Others think these expensive developments will take more refining. There is some smoke and mirrors happening with these developers, said John, a marketing manager and resident of Hurlock Heights, a new tower in Elephant and Castle (he declined to give his full name). The building hosts a mix of properties; build to rent, shared ownership and homes for sale. He feels his flat doesnt match the leafy, high-spec complex in the brochure, and residents have complained about high service charges.

Our rooftop garden is kept in such a poor state. Because residents are walking their pets there, the grass is all dead, said John. He said not being a pet owner was even more frustrating because when he originally bought the flat, nothing in the advertisement or contract said animals were allowed.

There are lessons for the build-to-rent developers from elsewhere in Europe. In Germany, Berliners last year voted on a controversial property expropriation bill to take 240,000 properties, or 11% of all apartments in Berlin, from corporate landlords.

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Build to rents glitzy goldrush raises fears for social housing - The Guardian

RENOVATING your home so that it looks like the gorgeous spaces you see on television is a daunting task.

However, several home renovation and design experts have revealed the steps homeowners can take to simplify their DIY renovation plans and ensure that theyre on the path to success.

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Andre Kazimierski, CEO of Improovy Painters Chicago, told The Sun the number one thing people looking to do some renovations to their home is to go in with a clear plan.

Before you start swinging your hammer or throwing paint at the wall, figure out exactly what you want to do and how you want the space to look when youre finished, he said.

What are your goals?

How are you going to achieve them?

Do you have all of the necessary supplies?

What is your budget?

He continued: Answering these questions can make your home renovation far less stressful and can help ensure that you actually complete the project.

Part of your plan should also be to acknowledge any building restrictions your town or particular home, if its historic has and learn about permits you will need to legally complete larger renovations.

According to the experts at Real Homes, work that commonly requires a permit includes structural changes, additions, HVAC work, demolition, and re-roofing.

The site added: However, permitting regulations and building codes vary depending on where you live, so you'll want to check with your city or town for specifics.

Many of us were taught to always double-check our work in school, and the same applies to the real world.

In fact, the owner of Colony Property Investments in New Hampshire, Rick Abbiati, told The Sun thats one of the most important parts of home renovations.

Measure twice so you only have to cut once, he suggested.

This will save you a large amount of heartache and money.

If youre not ready to take a sledgehammer to your wall, Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, recommended freshening up a home with some new paint.

If you dont have a lot of time or money to do any major renovations, but you want to change the overall appearance of a room, add an accent wall, he recommended.

You can simply paint it a darker or more vibrant color, or you can install shiplap or wallpaper that suits your style.

Accent walls have a way of elevating the appearance and feel of a room by adding more depth and dynamics to it, and the great thing about adding an accent wall is it usually doesnt take too much effort.

One savvy mom showed her followers exactly how to do that with just a Sharpie Paint Pen.

She claimed the $10 tool helped her easily transform several walls in her home along with a steady hand and some imagination.

The main goal of a DIY project aside from releasing creative energy for some is to give people the outcome they envision, but for a cheaper price.

Luckily, Australian interior designer Becc Burgmann has loads of ideas to help DIYers make the most out of their home renovation endeavors.

First, she recommended scouting furniture on buy-and-sell sites, secondhand shops, and even Facebook Marketplace to fill your home with more affordable pieces.

Its amazing how many people are giving away free kitchens if youll just come and take it out! she noted to The Sun.

And if something you see isnt quite what youre looking for, Becc suggested transforming it into a unique piece youll use.

Instead of paying for a new bathroom vanity, repurpose a console or buffet table.

How? Cut a round hole in the top with a jigsaw and pop in your basin, easy!

Looks incredible and so much character!

However, she said its important to make sure you know what you need to provide in regard to plumbing so you dont end up with a beautiful bathroom piece with no idea how to make it functional.

Becc also urged people to look in their own homes for goods they can recycle.

Think carefully about how you could repurpose pieces youd usually throw straight out, she said.

For example, if timber floorboards need to come up, salvage what you can and cut these to use for other features, i.e. a timber mantle around the fireplace, or wainscotting molding as a feature wall in a living space or bedroom, then simply paint!

She also suggested painting old tiles to give them new life for a one-of-a-kind backsplash or even flooring.

However, if youre planning to do more than just swap out some old furniture, Becc said to save money by doing any demolition work yourself and saving the more intricate stuff for the professionals.

Spend the money on people you have to, i.e. the electrician to make sure those aspects are done professionally and pass building codes, she advised.

If youre not looking to put a hole through your wall but are happy with the paint in your house, theres certainly more that can be done to breathe some new life into your space.

Alina Clark, co-founder and marketing director for Cocodoc, is in the market for a new house, which made her realize how big of a difference the seemingly small things can make in the aesthetic of a home.

For an easier DIY project, she suggested revamping the crown molding and trim in your interior rooms.

If your baseboard is just a couple inches high, pull it off and put on something better.

You can get very nice looking MDF baseboard 7 inches or so tall for not very much money and with a nice coat of paint, it will look amazing.

That kind of thing is very easy to install.

She added that window trim makes an incredible difference and is also cheap, but is certainly more challenging to install.

Meanwhile, Stefan Bucur, founder of The Rhythm of the Home, recommends investing in a Samsung Frame Television, which allows you to swap out the traditional black screen for a piece of art displayed on the TVs 4K screen.

As a DIY project, this is a very flexible way to decorate a home and the greatest advantage is that the art can be changed to match any background in the home, he said.

We recommend using textured art images and muted neutral colors to better incorporate a TV frame on a living room wall.

According to Dorothea Hudson, a home renovation expert with Clearsurance, you can completely transform a room with a mirror and it doesnt have to be costly.

You can easily find beautiful vintage mirrors in second-hand shops, she said.

Mirrors make your house look more spacious and lighter as well.

And for those itching for even more ways to easily spruce up your home, another expert previously revealed tips for making your home feel larger at no cost to you.

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David Thompson and husband Luis Gabriel were met with distressing scenes when they saw a room in their new home had been cleared out by burglars in Wythenshawe, Manchester

A couple has been left "absolutely devastated" after a group of burglars broke into their home and took around 90k worth of items.

The distraught pair are now offering a reward for anybody who can help them reclaim their stolen goods.

David Thompson, 35 and husband Luis Gabriel, 41, were met with distressing scenes when they saw a room upstairs in their new home in Wythenshawe, Manchester had been cleared out by a group of burglars.

Checking CCTV footage at their home, which has since been given to the Manchester Evening News, they saw people dressed in hoodies and wearing balaclavas jumping out of an upstairs window with heavy bags of designer goods.

The incident took place on the evening of January 20. The couple had only just moved and had not yet organised home insurance cover when the group of thieves struck.

David, the CEO of a social care company, said 'distinguishable' hoards of designer clothing and accessories were taken in the space of just 11 minutes, including Gucci and Burberry bags, Christian Louboutin shoes and a number of Rolex watches, some of which amounted to more than 9,000 each.

One of the wristwatches taken had been a personal gift to David from one of his friends who had passed away.

He said the ordeal has left him and his partner 'uncomfortable' in their own home, adding: "I had been out at work and my husband had been at the gym. We came back and just couldn't believe what we saw.

"Four people had broken into our home and taken around 90,000 worth of items that are really special to us. We work really hard for everything we have so it was just awful.

"They had jumped onto the flat roof of our dining room and smashed the window into our dressing room upstairs.

"It is scary thinking these people may have been watching our house to know when we weren't in.

"We were absolutely devastated and our dogs were shaken up too. We are so glad nothing bad happened to them, they are our family.

"We feel completely violated by this. Nobody should ever have to deal with somebody entering their space and stealing their belongings.

"Me and my husband have worked so hard for everything we own and all our possessions. Since this happened, we haven't been able to sleep or feel comfortable in our own house.

"We have only recently moved back to the country so were not insured. If we can't trace any of this back, it is a complete loss to us."

David said he was then encouraged by police to put appeals out on local social media groups to ask if anyone in the area knew anything.

Somebody anonymously came forward, sending David numerous messages and suggested an address that one of the culprits may have been living at who was selling off the goods.

Image:

After calling the police, who also attended the address, last Saturday, David said he waited around the corner before seeing a male wearing his stolen jacket.

"Out of the corner of my eye I saw a man walking down the street in the exact same jacket that was stolen," he said.

"I couldn't believe I actually [saw] someone wearing something I own. I jumped out of my car and chased him down the street.

"I could not sit around doing nothing and am determined not to be a victim. I want to try and do all I can to help.

"I just needed to see for myself if the guy had any of my things. The police arrested him there and then as he tried to run away, it felt like a small victory.

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"We want to raise as much awareness as possible. Not just to see if anybody knows anything or has been sold anything in the area, but also to show that these kinds of criminals can't just go round breaking into people's homes and getting away with it.

"I have now been forced to even start posting reward posters online to offer reward money just to get my own items back."

A male, 51, who was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and burglary, has since been released on bail as police enquiries continue.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Police were called shortly after 8.05pm on Thursday 20 January 2022 to a report of a burglary at a property on Ferndown Road, Wythenshawe.

"Enquiries have established that at around 6.10pm on Thursday, the offenders are believed to have entered the property through a window and later made off with a large quantity of high-value items.

"A man, aged 51, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and burglary. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

"Enquiries are ongoing."

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Couple offer reward to find 90k of designer goods snatched from dressing room - Mirror.co.uk

TAOS, N.M. Mike Reynolds never worried too much as the world inched closer to doomsday. In spring 2020, motorists lined up outside grocery stores waiting for food as the coronavirus pandemic first wrapped its tentacles around the global supply chain. Next came an unprecedented surge of extreme weather as wildfires devastated the American West, hurricanes lashed tropical coastlines, and a deadly winter storm brought the Texas power grid to its knees.

I was watching that on TV and then walking down the hallway of my building, picking bananas and spinach and kale and tomatoes and eating them. Barefoot, because my building was warm without fuel, Reynolds said. My Earthship took care of me.

Earthships are off-grid, self-reliant houses built from tires, dirt and garbage that have long been an offbeat curiosity for travelers passing by the ski town of Taos, but suddenly look like a haven for climate doomers. Residents of the 630-acre flagship Earthship community treat their own waste, collect their own water, grow their own food, and regulate their own temperature by relying on the sun, rain and earth.

Reynolds, 76, has been building these structures called vessels since the early 1970s when, after graduating from architecture school at the University of Cincinnati, he took up off-road motorcycle racing on the high desert plateau around Taos to try to injure himself to avoid being drafted to Vietnam. He never left.

They were talking about a freak on the mesa in New Mexico building buildings out of garbage. That was scandalous, Reynolds said. But he gained more followers as people became more conscious of climate change, and 2020 brought a surge of interest in new construction.

Those interested range from dreamers such as Linda May, who was depicted in the film Nomadland and whose ultimate goal was to build an Earthship, to young people anxious about a worsening climate, a housing shortage, and eternally escalating electricity and heating costs.

Its hard for me to even think of going back to a conventional house, said Freya Dobson, 24, who is from New York. This is a real solution for living.

Earthships operate using six green-building principles governing heating and cooling, solar electricity, water collection, sewage treatment, food production, and the use of natural and recycled materials. This meant that when Earthships emerged in the 1970s, they addressed something nobody else did: What do we do with garbage? said Rachel Preston Prinz, a green designer in Santa Fe, N.M., who wrote the book Hacking the Earthship.

About 40% of a typical Earthship is built with natural or recycled materials, most notably foundations and walls made up of hundreds of used tires packed with dirt. These work with dual layers of floor-to-ceiling passive solar windows, which collect sun during winter and reject it in the summer to keep structures at a comfortable room temperature, no matter the weather outside.

Its incredibly beautiful, said Britt Shacham Bernstein, 25, shortly after visiting an Earthship for the first time. Theres a whole ecosystem in here, and youre a part of the ecosystem.

Earthships originally spawned from the arid climate of Taos, maximizing abundant sunlight while squeezing whatever they can from about eight inches of annual rainfall. Each Earthship shares a set of core organs such as a water organization module, which filters and separates water as it moves throughout the house. In the Earthship ecosystem, water is first used for drinking, showering and hand washing before moving to interior plants, such as fig and banana trees, along with hanging gardens of herbs and flowers.

The resulting black water is used in the toilet before being flushed into a septic tank, where it fertilizes ornamental outdoor plants and can then be safely released into the groundwater supply.

Another module controls solar power, which is used primarily for lights and appliances. Earthships use about one-sixth as much power as a conventional house.

A typical Earthship can produce 25% to 50% of the food its residents need, depending on a multitude of factors including diet, climate and how much time is spent on garden maintenance, said Phil Basehart, a construction team leader. If you follow a plant-based diet, you may never have to visit a grocery store again.

Said Trent Wolbe, a sustainability lead for events and experiences at Google and a fellow owner who completed an Earthship Academy in 2012: Theyre super inspiring from a sustainability point of view. If youre a builder, or someone who is interested in doing off-grid systems and expanding where people can live reliably, then all signs point to Earthships.

But there are also stories of failed builds and abandoned projects, sometimes after tens of thousands of dollars have been spent, and Reynolds has faced lawsuits from unsatisfied buyers. Earthships are experimental, evolving and imperfect structures, and most American families cannot afford expensive growing pains.

Enthusiasts warn against buying or building an Earthship before participating in an Earthship Academy, in which students pay about $1,000 to spend a month helping with a build and taking classes on construction and maintenance. An Earthship is not plug and play, said Dobson, who graduated in October from the academy in Taos, and homeowners can be dependent on people in the Earthship community to help them solve problems. They are also hard to build, and many prospective owners hire the for-profit Earthship Biotecture as contractors.

"You're packing 400 pounds of dirt into a tire," Dobson said. "That's one of the hardest things I've ever done."

Earthship Biotectures Global Model, the most popular build, was designed to work in the vast majority of climates with minor adaptations, and a study on Earthships built in London, Paris and Spain showed it is largely successful at providing thermal comfort without heating or cooling. But the intimate relationship between house and earth requires complex construction considerations that go much smoother with the touch of their eccentric founder.

Maybe hes a visionary, maybe hes crazy, Prinz said. But if youre not working with Mike, I feel like Im losing some of that.

.

Reynolds has tried to build multifamily and commercial structures for years but has run into permit problems, forcing his team to experiment with new projects in places with loose building codes. His team has built a typhoon shelter in the Philippines, disaster relief homes in Puerto Rico, and an in-progress school in southern Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake this past summer.

The projects are mostly funded by volunteers who pay to work on the builds and learn about Earthships, just as they do at the academies in New Mexico.

Reynolds knows humanity needs time to be swayed. He compares people to a banana plant in his Earthship that, as the months pass, gradually bends to reach the sunlight.

Its got to be down to, the Titanics got to be sinking, and this is the life raft, he said. But selling them on the life raft while they can go dine and dance in the hall with the rich people in the top level, its a hard sell.

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These homes are off-grid and climate resilient. Theyre also built out of trash. - The Philadelphia Inquirer