Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Dean Narciso|The Columbus Dispatch

DELAWARE Behind the beakers, safety goggles and chemical vialsinsideOhio Wesleyan University's Schimmel/Conrades Science Center, a team of chemists is conjuring new uses for the ubiquitous soybean.

The workers, includingstudent interns in lab coats, havea singular motivation behind their work:helping, or at least not hurting, the increasingly fragileenvironment.

Airable Research Lab, a three-year-old company funded through the Ohio Soybean Council,moved into the underutilized labs a year agoafter Barry McGraw, a longtime Battelle researcher, asked university officials about the space.

The university agreed to lease it to the company, and in exchange, biochemistry students getpaid internships, real-world instruction and satisfaction in knowing the power of responsible engineering.

The soybean, Ohio's main cash crop, is a high-protein, "good-fat" staple ingredient in everything from tofu to ice cream. But it's the bean's natural oils and extracts that can replace dangerous petrochemical counterparts such asphthalate esters, which are used to improve pliability in plastics.

The Airable chemists already have patented a liquid spray now used by Roof Maxx, a spin-off of Feazel Roofing. The solution is sprayed on asphalt shingles to extend their life, akin to a moisturizer for dry hands, McGrawsaid.

A similar solution is used on rubber tires to keep them flexible and looking new.

As chief laboratory officer, McGraw, 45, a plastics engineer who lives in the small Delaware County village of Radnor, said he was drawn to the challenges of the job.

"It's what wakes you up in the morning," he said, standing beside bottles of livestock shampoos and sprays containing hazardous compounds that the company is looking to improve. "It's being able to have access to cleaners that you don't have to worry about causinghealth problems and other products that may last longer and keeping them out of landfills."

Looking at one of the labels, he added: "It's fairly nasty ... not the best thing to be putting on any animal. Can we replace these components with soy?"

McGrawalso is director of product development and commercialization for the Ohio Soybean Council. The lab is funded, in part, through the council, by a half-percent fee that farmers pay on crop sales which pays for national and local research, marketing and other support for the crop and farmers. A $500,000 budget supports thelab's five full-time workers and other part-time and student employees.

Todd Hesterman farms about 1,300 acresof beans, corn and wheat on his family-run Henry County farm in northwest Ohio.As the soybean council's research chairman, he knows well how global trade, price fluctuations and weather can affect his livelihood.

Research "gives us an opportunity to limit the effect of trade agreements on price fluctuations. Green solutions and bioproducts fall right into our camp and our beliefs," he said of farmers' natural tendency toward conservation.

Many other states and cash-crop councils fund their research through the U.S. Department of Agriculture or universities.

With Airable, "we're saving soybean farmers a lot of money by having our own lab. It's a rare opportunity kind of an experiment in itself," Hesterman said.

The benefits aren't lost on the lab's employees, including research chemist Ashlynn Vander Mer.

"I find that most industries care more about performance than where their materials come from," she said.

Dylan Karis, lead chemist at the facility, is working on technology to remove rare earth elements from coal ash, tons of which are emptied into landfills from power plants.

"I've always been interested in the environmental side of all industries," said Karis, who wasn't satisfied with conventional researchafter earning his doctorate from the University of Washington. "This was focused on solving a problem and giving a bio-based solution."

Soy oil byproducts can replace petroleum-based substances commonly found in plastics, paints, adhesives andbiodiesel fuels.

One lab experiment involvesthe seemingly mundane goal of finding biodegradable label adhesives to be affixed on already recyclable packaging.

"I think the more successes, the more confidence andideas that comefrom those successes," McGrawsaid.

Like other "think tank" operations, McGrawwho oversees everything from marketing to research and negotiating licensing deals with businesses is responsible for knowing when to pull the plug on an idea that isn't working.

"It's a finebalance," hesaid. "If it doesn't work, we quickly move to the next project. There's really no bad idea, as long as you're willing to try it and kill if it doesn't work out.

"It's a bad idea if you keep doing it, and keep trying and spend a lot of money and time on it."

An earlier version of this story had an incorrect spelling for Barry McGraw.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso

Excerpt from:
Startup at Ohio Wesleyan University focused on green solutions for soy-based products - The Columbus Dispatch

JACKSON, MI - A new energy efficient apartment building and an old building being given a second chance are award winners in Jackson.

The 200, built by Jackson Downtown Partners, and Christoff & Sons Floor Covering Inc., which renovated the former Toy House & Baby Too, are winners of the 2020 Brick Award from the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. The award goes to businesses who substantially upgrade a building or create a new building from the ground up.

Chamber of Commerce honors Jackson businesses in annual community awards

Jackson Downtown Partners spent around $12 million to build The 200, a building with four floors and 86 units 200 N. Jackson St.

Thanks go to Consumer Energy, and Consumer Energys green energy initiative, said Kevin Thomson, resident agent. It has been very influential in the development that has come together.

Energy efficient apartment building in Jackson eyes December opening date

The 200 is part of Consumers Energys Jackson Smart Energy District, an area of downtown with entities featuring green technology. The 200 features a 130-kilowatt solar array on its roof, with 362 panels estimated to produce 150,000 kilowatts per hour in a year.

The 200 opened Dec. 1, and is a mixture of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Amenities include a fitness center, community lounge space, granite countertops, in-unit washer and dryers, sound reduction methods between apartments and allowances for pets.

Ted and Tom Christoff were given the award for transforming the iconic Toy House and Baby Too, 400 N. Mechanic St., into their new business location in December 2019

The Toy House and Baby Too, 400 N. Mechanic St. in Jackson, announced on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 that they will be closing. The tentative close date is slated for late December. (J. Scott Park | Mlive.com) MLive Media GroupMLive Media Group

The Christoffs bought the building for $400,000, per city records, and invested well over $1 million in the project.

Historic Toy House building reopens with different kind of retail experience

They preserved the history of the much-loved former toy store while creating a new and store for their flooring business, Ted Christoff said during the virtual award ceremony. The new store provides more space as the Christoffs continue to expand their business from their previous location of 6,000 square feet to a 30,000-square-foot location.

The exterior of Christoff and Sons Floor Covering Inc. at 400 N. Mechanic Street on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. Christoff and Sons Floor Covering Inc. opened in the former Toy House and Baby Too toy store. Mary Lewandowski| MLive.com

Christoff & Sons opened in 1979 and offers flooring and remodeling services, such as ceramic tile, carpets, vinyl, hardwood and upholstery. The business has had clients as big as factories, banks and hospitals, and as small as bathroom renovations or cleaning a couch in someones house.

Christoff & Sons celebrates 40 years in Jackson, moves to new location

Almost 100 percent of the work on both of these projects was done by locally based companies, officials said.

Using local contractors is not only good for the economy and your business, it is good for the community, Christoff said. It brings a sense of pride to the community.

The award presentation can be watched here.

Read more from The Jackson Citizen Patriot:

He pushed through COVID-19 to keep his Jackson business running, now hes earned a chamber award

Jackson County focusing COVID vaccination efforts on seniors, essential workers

Jackson officials tight-lipped on department heads departure

Appointed officials receive high marks on first formal evaluations in Jackson

See the original post here:
Energy efficient apartments, new flooring store in a familiar location earn Jackson chambers Brick Award - MLive.com

Share

Share

Share

Email

When remodeling her basement, Rachael Boyer, president and CEO of The Home Authority, custom-designed the space to meet her entertaining dreams. With a theater, game table, full bar, exercise room, home office and guest bedroom, Boyers remodel fully realized her basements unutilized potential.

From the floorplan to the fixtures and finishes, Boyer offered her professional insight into the process behind the basement remodel.

Theres nothing normal about anything The Home Authority does and so it gives us the opportunity to problem solve and do unique things where other companies probably wouldnt have that ability, Boyer said.

A guiding concept of this basement remodel was to maximize the function of the homes entertainment space. The resulting solution is a fully outfitted basement entertainment area complete with its own private entry.

Home TheaterThe basements home theater boasts an 85-inch TV underlined by a narrow, linear fireplace. The resulting effect is sleek and modern, requiring creative problem solving to be executed so seamlessly. The house is designed with a bump-out. Boyer utilized that extra space to do a reverse design of the TV and fireplace to make them flush and put all the components behind.

Most basements that are being remodeled are older homes or theyre homes that havent been finished before, Boyer said. You just have to plan appropriately when youre picking out your fireplace. Some people want the traditional square fireplace and you just cant do it and get the big TV at the same time.

The home theater also includes a sound system that runs throughout the entire home. Everything is automated off of an iPad system and the sound system can be controlled from any room of the house.

Game TableThe focal point of the gaming area is a beautiful live-edge gaming table with a stream of clear epoxy running down the center resembling a shallow riverbed.

This is a piece thats really meaningful to us for many reasons, Boyer said. Within the epoxy are stones from Boyers grandparents house. Boyers grandmother even put some of the stones into the table herself, adding sentimental value to the table.

The Home Authority creates custom tables using locally sourced lumber. They can custom build a table to best serve the form and function of your space. In the case of Boyers table, it is built with memories from the past and is used as a gathering space to create future memories.

The wood slab of the table was also used to make end tables that can double as additional seating.

BarThis basement also features a full bar designed to be the hub of the space. Boyer designed the bar so that if someone is standing behind it, they have complete sightlines to all other areas in the basement.

A lot of the time, people disconnect in the basement. They have these little areas and not everyone can fit in those spaces, Boyer said. The general concept I think a lot of people miss out on is that everyone wants to see everyone and be with everyone. So we created that space.

Even with the spaces openness, it still feels cozy and personable. Boyer credits this to their decision to do 8-foot ceilings rather than 10-foot ceilings.

Boyer considered the practicality and aesthetic value in all of the design choices.We leave everything wide open because you have no question about where your coffee is, no question where the dishes are and no question where the drinks are, Boyer elaborated on the decision to use primarily floating shelves. It makes it easy for people to feel at home.

An iridescent metallic backsplash paired with thick wooden floating shelves adds an industrial feature to the bar without sacrificing any of the spaces warmth. The prominent use of wood throughout the basement brings a natural element to the modern palette. One can even see the relationship between the natural and the industrial in the bars quartzite countertop, as the slabs markings resemble the roots of a tree.

Exercise RoomJust off the bar is an exercise room complete with mirrored walls, rubber floors and metal barn doors custom-designed by Boyer. When closed, the doors act as a sound barrier, giving the room a spa-like feel. When open, whoever is behind the bar has a direct view of the TV.

Bed and BathThe basement also includes a guest bedroom and two bathrooms. In the bathroom near the entry, Boyer wanted to show how you can maximize your space. I wanted to show what a standard size bathroom is in normal homes, and how you can take out a tub and make a beautiful tile shower and still have a good-sized vanity, Boyer said. People dont realize that because theyre used to their little enclosed area.

The second bathroom is located just off the guest bedroom, which contains one of the most memorable features of the remodel, a petrified wood sink. Past the bathroom is a bright and airy home office with white cabinetry, live-edge floating shelves and a metallic floor that sparkles when caught in the light just right.

Boyers remodel expertly balances both industrial and natural design elements while emphasizing the flow and function of the space.

The Home AuthorityHomeauthorityinc.com 701-936-5610

See the original post here:
Flow and Functionality - Design and Living Magazine - Design & Living Magazine

When Paul and Leslie Kaplan decided to put their water view Northport home of 17 years on the market this winter, their agent, Doris Kason, told them todays buyer is looking for a house that is move-in ready with neutral features.

So, they updated their kitchen, replacing linoleum countertops with beige granite, refacing their cabinets to white with new hardware, and adding a neutral subway tile backsplash. In a first-floor bathroom, they removed wallpaper, painted and upgraded the vanity. They also traded a red carpet in their den for beige.

Two weeks and $15,000 later, Leslie Kaplan said, "I wish wed made these changes sooner so we could enjoy them longer." Their house goes on the market for $899,999 in early March.

Why make that kind of financial investment when you plan to sell?

Buyers in this market are willing to pay more for a renovated home because they dont have the time, know-how, money or desire to do it themselves, said Kason, a real estate associate with Douglas Elliman based in Plainview. "By cleaning up and doing some minor renovations and manageable projects to your home before selling, you may be able to net a significant return on your investment and stand out from your local competition."

That doesnt mean the value of your home will increase by the exact amount you put in, according to Linda Bell, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet. A recent report by the personal finance company indicates homeowners will make back 66.5% of their original investment for remodeling projects completed in 2020. But the upside is youll most likely sell your home quicker and could even have a bidding war, driving the price well beyond asking, said Maddy Camay, broker associate for Compass USA in Syosset.

Just freshening up a few rooms with paint appears to have paid off for a house on Lone Oak Court in Centerport, according to the broker Kim Schultze with Coldwell Banker Realty. She said that there were 16 offers and all but one were well over the asking price. The house went to contract on Feb. 12, 12 days after the offer was accepted.

The best LI real estate news in your inbox weekly.

By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.

If youre not sure about the condition of your home, Priscilla Holloway, a licensed real estate salesperson with Douglas Elliman in Westhampton Beach, recommends getting an inspection or at least doing an evaluation yourself and then prioritizing what needs repairs. While it may be tempting to skip structural issues like a new roof, Camay said that would work against you when its picked up by the buyers engineer and you have to renegotiate with the buyer for less money.

With cosmetic changes like those the Kaplans undertook, Andrew Smith, vice president of project sales at Power Home Remodeling in Melville, suggested prioritizing the trouble areas and determining an overall timeline and budget. Whats on the outside also counts.

Curb appeal the initial reaction from potential buyers when they see your home from the street has a real impact; brokers believe it takes less than a half-minute for them to make up their mind about going forward.

Here are seven projects inside and out that local experts said are important to buyers and can yield you returns during resale.

Painting your homes interior and exterior gives the immediate perception its being well-maintained, said John Paulik, owner of CertaPro Painters of Huntington, and its one of the easiest and least expensive ways to get a fresh look. Thats particularly true of surface problems like peeling tape seams and poor spackling.

"Sometimes people do their own patchwork fixes over the years, but those stand out and should be addressed either by doing it yourself or hiring a professional," Paulik said. "Caulking also makes a difference, as well as trim and windows. It all gives a clean look."

For colors, he recommends neutrals like bone white, alabaster and light grays.

"Exterior painting can also make a house pop and should always be addressed when there are issues like rotting shingles, fascia boards and soffits, which need to be replaced or will draw an inspectors eye," Paulik said.

Cost: Average $300 a room and $3,000 for the exterior up to $10,000 for the entire interior or exterior

Time: 2 days to a week

Even if its not their dream kitchen, buyers prefer that minor updates are done, said Golie Oheb, associate real estate broker at Daniel Gale Sothebys International Realty in Greenvale. She recommends repainting or refinishing the cabinet doors in white and getting modern hardware, like brushed nickel. Also, replace any outdated countertop materials with granite.

Cost: Hardware, $5 to $10 per pull; refinishing or repainting cabinets, $6,000-plus; granite countertop, $40 to $60 per square foot

Time: About two weeks

This is another area that buyers would rather not have to renovate, Oheb said. That can be as simple as replacing the vanity. "If your bathroom has outdated tile colors, rather than replacing them, get them professionally glazed. So many houses have those 1950s tiles in pinks and blues, but they can easily be made white, bone or almond as can the tub."

Cost: Reglazing, $300 to $1,000; a new vanity, $200-plus

Time: 1-2 days for reglazing; a few hours for the vanity

Old carpeting should be the first to go, said Camay. "If the floor underneath is in bad condition, replace it with an inexpensive, neutral carpet."

Its best if you refinish hardwood floors, said Holloway. "If you have an older, weathered floor it never shows well. Refinishing the floors can change the look of a room immediately."

Cost: Carpeting, $300-plus per room; refinishing hardwood floors, $7/square foot

Time: Carpeting, one day; refinishing floors, 3-5 days

Smith recommends a front-door makeover. You can just apply a fresh coat of paint and modernize the hardware. If youre interested in replacing the door entirely, materials vary from wood, steel and fiberglass, as well as design options.

Cost: Entry door replacements, $300 to $1,000-plus; hardware, about $50 per handle; paint, under $200.

Time: A few hours to a day

Oheb said that landscaping doesnt have to mean extensive and expensive plans. Instead, focus on trimming overgrown trees and shrubs especially those that block windows and removing dead plants and trees.

Cost: Free with appropriate tools or hire a service

Time: Hours to days

The pandemic has made outdoor living spaces a valuable draw for homebuyers who want to expand their entertaining and work areas, said Adam Gipe, the local regional sales manager for New Jersey-based Belgard/Sakrete, which manufactures and distributes paving stones. "That has led to outdoor renovations and repairs of retaining walls, patio spaces and even the addition of firepits," he said.

First clean and seal any existing patio area pavers, Gipe said. Repair any cracks in the retaining walls. If youre going to build a patio area, look for earth tones. Upgrade your backyard look with a fire pit. Adding a woodburning firepit can be as easy as getting a portable kit for about $150 or having one built. If the latter, Gipe said to check with your town codes. Gas firepits require hiring a plumber.

Cost: Cleaning and sealing pavers, about $2/square foot; wood-burning firepit, around $700; gas, about $2,000; paver patios, about $400 to $500 per square foot with a contractor

Time: Projects can be DIY; for contractors theres at least a two-month lead time for three to four days of work.

Real estate agents recommend the No. 1 and least costly step is to declutter. According to Golie Oheb of Daniel Gale Sothebys International Realty, that means packing away anything that will be a distraction to buyers.

Even if you have to get a storage unit, its worth it to present an open feel, she said.

By Liza N. Burby Special to Newsday

More:
7 home renovations that can pay off at sale - Newsday

The aircraft had its roots not in commercial aviation, but in the military. In the 1960s, the U.S. Air Force sought to develop a large plane for cargo and troop transport, and it tapped into the expertise of aerospace companies, including Boeing, to develop one. While Boeing didnt win the contractit ultimately went to Lockheed Martin for the C-5 Galaxythe company was able to take its technological research and transform it into the 747.

Under the leadership of engineer Joe Sutter, a team of Incredibles, as they became known, worked at lightning speed with a paltry budget to build the plane in 29 months. At the time, Boeing directed the majority of its resources to other crucial projects, including NASAs Apollo missions and the development of a supersonic transport, or SST, which was supposed to be the future of passenger air travel. (Only two SSTs ever ended up entering service: the Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144, while Boeings funding was cut, thus ending the program.)

Boeings mock-up for the Tiger Lounge, complete with the 747s iconic spiral staircase.

The 747 was originally designed to ferry passengers for just a few years, as Boeings SST was being finalized, before being converted into a cargo carrier. And it was that cargo purpose that led to the aircrafts defining exterior design element: her hump. The best way to load freight onto an airplane is straight down the length of the fuselage. They thought the best way to do this with the 747 is to have a nose that tilts up, says Lombardi. Well, if you do that on a conventional airplane, the flight deck is right there in the way. So the way to fix that is to put the flight deck up on top of the fuselage.

And thus the hump came to be, which in itself led to another key design feature aboard the aircraftthis one on the interior. Due to aerodynamics, the hump had to be extended behind the cockpit, leaving an empty space. Pan Am founder and aviation giant Juan Trippe, who had ordered the first 25 747s for his airline in 1966, can be credited with defining that space. Boeing said, Well, we could use it as a crew rest area, and Juan Trippe immediately said, Oh, no, thatll be our first-class lounge, says commercial aviation historian Shea Oakley.

Qantass Captain Cook Lounge for first-class passengers.

Read the original here:
How the Boeing 747 Changed the Way Airplanes Are Designed - Architectural Digest

W

hen a couple contacted fashion designer-turned-interiors guru Matthew Williamson on Instagram recently, they hoped hed settle a disagreement about which lampshades to choose for their bedside tables.

They were coming at it from the wrong angle, I said lets talk about the floor first is it concrete? Is it wooden? I cant help you pick lampshades if I dont know what the foundations of the room are, says Williamson.

Fortunately the couple, who certainly got more help than theyd bargained for that day, loved the idea.

Lamp from collaboration with Pooki, lampshades 70, lamps from 180

The floor informs the bed, you work up and over the room, he tells me on a call from his home in the mountains of northern Mallorca, where he has spent most of the past year with his partner, Joseph Velosa, and their five-year-old daughter, Skye.

Williamson describes designing his own homes as well as a traditional stone-walled house in Dei, he also has an apartment in a grand Victorian building in Belsize Park and the homes of clients much in the way youd tackle a painting.

His vast overestimation of the laymans painting skills aside, he speaks of painting the background first: the walls, the floor and the ceiling in a room design, or the shell.

It sounds elementary but people miss that trick, he says. Thats the first step, its madness to buy cushions before you consider the background.

Matthew Williamsons collaboration with Pooki on display in his Deia home

Big-ticket items such as the bed and the dining table, are the middle ground, then the details follow: The petals, the flowers, the eye colour, these are your cushions, your mirrors and your lamps.

And its Williamsons own pivot from fashion to interior design and now shoppable homewares the details that is affirming his brand as a household name. Once the fashion favourite of A-listers and friends including Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, Williamson is bringing all his products to one, curated platform (matthewwilliamson.com).

From 12 notebooks in a Persian design-inspired paisley pattern, to a newly launched decorative furniture collection with Roome London in which bespoke dressing screens and sideboards are priced from 5,500, the products cover eight categories from lighting to rugs and cater for all budgets.

You could always buy wallpaper [I designed] through Osborne & Little, and you could buy stationery, he says. I wanted to put it under one roof rather than it being fractured, a one-stop shop to see my whole universe of design.

Lamps from collaboration with Pooki

And theres plenty more to come, says Williamson, who turns 50 in October. The antique section of the online store is growing and he hopes to create a gallery wall of artwork soon, so well get to see those painting skills in action.

Hes also a guest judge on the new eight-part Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr and Michelle Ogundehin.

Were all at home now, weve all got to the same place that home is not just a place to sleep and wake up in it counts far more than ever before, he says.

Even if youre not interested in design, you probably now need a table thats not just a dining table, it also needs to be a school for children or a place to work.

While fashion was my chosen subject, Ive always been fascinated by interior design, homes and how people live. This is really the icing on the cake.

Interior Design Masters airs on BBC Two on Tuesdays at 8pm

Read more:
Matthew Williamson on his new curated interior design platform - Evening Standard

Several homeowners consider home additions as expensive and remain perplexed about their usefulness and ability to add value. However, adding square footage to the home or making a few essential upgrades is an excellent way to fetch a good ROI. But not all home additions are equal. Some are a complete waste of time, money, and effort, while others can recoup more than half of the amount invested.

Well-researched and carefully deliberated add-ons are more likely to pay off in the future. They increase the living area, enhance the look and functionality, and substantially add to the homes value. If your needs have outgrown the current homes space and there is a possibility of putting up the house for sale in the future, it is only smart to add on to the home to increase its resale value.

While contemplating a home renovation, here are a few additions you can make to attract more potential buyers:

Bathroom

Not having enough bathrooms in the house is not only inconvenient but also turns-off the potential buyers. Consider adding a full or a half-bath, depending on the budget, to enhance the functionality and sales appeal. People working on a tight budget can expand the existing one and upgrade to modern designs and features. The cost of bathroom addition depends on the size and the accessories you wish to include. Homeowners are likely to recover more than 50% of the bathroom addition investment.

Deck

For homes lacking an outdoor patio space, adding a deck makes for a useful and wise investment. It offers a fun and enjoyable spot for the family and is appealing to potential buyers. For areas experiencing milder climates, a deck makes the outdoor space usable year-round. People living in regions with cold winters can enclose it to convert it into a sunroom or an extra room to expand the living space. And the best part, it offers 75-80% returns on the investment.

Finish the basement or attic

Unfinished basements or attics in several households serve as an extra storage space. One of the most affordable ways to create an extra living space without adding an extra room is to convert these areas into a bedroom, workout area, or a home office without detailed structural changes. Add a bathroom and closets to increase the functionality. Basement remodeling recoups more than 75% of the investment.

Add Windows

Adding new windows has more benefits than one. They eliminate drafts, and their insulation properties significantly cut the heating and cooling expenses, saving money on energy bills. House with energy-saving features is a big attraction for potential buyers.

Kitchen additions

The kitchen is the center of attraction in every house. If you feel it lacks adequate space and feels cramped, add on to it to increase the homes salability. Kitchen remodels or additions fetch one of the highest returns. Updating the existing appliances and adding new cabinets, counter, center island, or a pantry for additional storage makes the kitchen more enjoyable and functional and pays back a big chunk of the invested money.

Add an extra story

Adding an extra story is an expensive and time-consuming home addition that adds significantly to the square footage. It enhances the homes resale value and makes it appealing to potential homebuyers. An extra floor with a master suite recoups more than half of the investment while selling.

These are a few additions to consider while looking to boost the homes value. Selecting the best one for your needs depends on factors like location, size, and condition of the current house, budget, and when are you willing to put up the market for sale? Home additions and remodels present an incredible way to create a valuable and comfortable living space.

The rest is here:
Additions that Add Value to A Home - - VENTS Magazine

TEWKSBURY The Heath Brook Elementary School on Shawsheen Street was another beneficiary of the Green Committees work to secure grants for energy improvements in the community.

Tewksburys Green Committee was able to secure a 2020 grant to upgrade the lighting at the Heath Brook to LED fixtures and bulbs, a move that will net the town an annual savings of $12,050 and provide a 6.29 year payback.

The project, submitted by Town Planner Anna McGinty, also qualified for National Grid incentives which totaled $26,125. The towns total outlay for the project was $5,000.

McGinty said that projects such as the Heath Brook LED project are attractive to the state because it is looking for opportunities to get the maximum amount of savings for energy improvements for communities. The project, a coordination between the Tewksbury School Department, the town, and Guardian Energy Management Solutions, was started in November of 2020 and completed in December of 2020.

McGinty and the Green Committee are constantly evaluating and prioritizing projects to be funded by grant opportunities and strive to be ready for any incentives that the Commonwealth may offer.

The town expects to see a 67 percent reduction in electricity usage from that building, said McGinty, noting that the improved quality of lighting for the elementary school staff and students is an added bonus.

The new fixtures have a longer life span, reducing maintenance and capital costs. According to project documents, the entire project cost was $99,507. Factoring in the utility incentive and the town contribution, the final cost was $68,382 which will be reimbursed to the town by the state.

McGinty explained that for Green Communities grants, once a project is approved, the Commonwealth provides the first 25 percent of the grant up front, then the town pays for the rest of the project, submitting for a 50 percent reimbursement, and then receiving the last

25 percent reimbursement once the project has been approved as completed.

Proof of completion includes inspections and photographs submitted to the state, along with a project report.

Other town buildings that have benefitted from interior LED lighting retrofits include the police station, the DPW, the North Street fire station, the food pantry, the Ryan school, the high school, and the senior center.

The town has participated in Green Community grant projects since receiving its designation in 2011 and has upgraded indoor and outdoor lighting and heating systems along with weatherization and other energy control measures consistently each year.

The rest is here:
Lighting up the Heath Brook School | News | homenewshere.com - Tewksbury town crier

Valentines Day is typically a lucrative day for restaurants. For diners, theres a last-minute panic to snag a reservation, choosing between expensive prix fixe menus and wine pairings. On the hospitality side, SF restaurants say they get an influx of new customers, many willing to pay the price for a special occasion. Though the city is slowly and cautiously reopening its outdoor patrons, its still a heart wrench to lose indoor wining and dining on this particular holiday especially when the forecast looks like rain.

Some restaurants are reopening just in time for this holiday weekend. Foreign Cinema, that bohemian enclave in the Mission, is a cinematic destination for Valentines Day, serving seafood towers to guests under the twinkling lights. Its a huge day, says chef and co-owner Gayle Pirie. And historically speaking, its been an incredible day Were sold out every year. Its the linens, the candles, the stars, the lights its special.

Foreign Cinema has been hibernating since December 6, when the city went into its second full lockdown. Even though the city allowed outdoor dining again on January 28, the restaurant waited longer. Pirie says reopening a restaurant isnt as simple as flipping a switch after sending staff home and unplugging fridges. Theyve spent the past two weeks cleaning and prepping the restaurant, just to hit this holiday.

Restaurants that rely on indoor experiences are going to face the biggest challenges. Chapeau is a neighborhood bistro of the Inner Richmond, which has been charming regulars with prix fixe filet mignon and escargot for nearly 25 years. For Valentines Day, chef Philippe Gardelle usually spaces out the tables, fills the room with flowers and balloons, and puts out an over-the-top four-course menu.

He says they usually do 120 covers, but this year, hes hoping for 80 covers at best in the restaurants outdoor parklet, and maybe an additional 20 takeout boxes for two. Those are priced down for diminishing returns: The indoor menu is usually $120, the outdoor menu is now $100, and the takeout boxes are $75 per person. People are eating outside, so its less comfortable, says Gardelle, clearly missing his cozy dining room.

Outdoor dining limits restaurants to a fraction of their usual tables. Even Foreign Cinema, with its back patio, is using maybe a fifth of its huge combined space. Chapeau is lucky to have a parklet in the avenues where the streets are wide and quiet, but its down to less than half of its usual tables.

Niku and Omakase, the Japanese-American luxury wagyu and sushi spots in the Design District, have a particularly dramatic reduction. Owner Kash Feng says Niku is only putting five or six very coveted tables out front, which means that maybe 20 people will get to sit down for wagyu this Valentines Day. Ive been getting a lot of texts, says Feng. And of course, some restaurants cant offer outdoor dining whatsoever. Without the full experience of its namesake omakase counter, Omakase is going to straight takeout only.

Timing is another limitation. Laurie Thomas, the executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA), points out that a two-hour time limit for diners is in effect, and the citys curfew is still in place at 10 p.m., which means the latest restaurants can seat diners in parklets would be 8 p.m. Niku says its usual wagyu tasting menu took about three and a half hours, and Chapeau says its prix fixe was two and a half hours, so for those kinds of multicourse menus, theres no more lingering over a bottle of wine, and meals are getting cut short at the end of the night.

Chapeau is doing an early seating in the afternoon to try to compensate. Foreign Cinema has abandoned its five-course menu altogether. With curfew and time restrictions and public safety, were just doing a beautiful a la carte menu, says Pirie. Its a Sunday night. Theres a curfew. Were not going to stress.

And if fewer tables and tighter timing werent enough, the prospect of rain is freaking everyone out. Even if parklets are covered, they are required to be open at the sides, leaving thin-skinned Californians susceptible to the elements. Well see how it goes, but were dreading the rain, says Thomas, who is worrying over canceled reservations at her restaurant Terzo. And even Foreign Cinema, protected between buildings at the center of a city block, wont withstand real rain. We have some covering, but if it rains [this weekend], were screwed, says Pirie. She describes an hour-by-hour guessing game that will ensue. Is it sprinkles? Is it the Pineapple Express? If it sprinkles from five to eight, and it pours at 10, well be all right.

In terms of wine sales, Valentines is also an important night for restaurants. Sommelier Chris Gaither previously worked at the French Laundry, Spruce, and Gary Danko, fine dining destinations that roll out even more courses, caviar, and bubbles for the holiday. He says that Valentines is a high-volume night with solidly good wine sales, with couples maybe more likely to splurge on the pairings or a slightly nicer bottle. But there are other nights that would have been better, he says, given how many first-time customers might be sitting down, with a little less comfort chatting through the wine list. There were other days with higher wine sales, and those are just at random.

Now, as the co-owner of Ungrafted wine bar and bottle shop in the Dogpatch, Gaither has seen firsthand how the pandemic has upended wine sales. Last year, he says Ungrafted was balancing its sales at approximately 80 percent dining and 20 percent retail. This Valentines Day, those numbers have completely flipped. Even with charcuterie and steak frites for outdoor dining, theyre expecting 70 to 80 percent of their holiday sales to come from the shop. Ungrafted sold out of Champagne on New Years Eve, and he notes that both Spruce and Gary Danko have opened up their cellars and are attempting to sell a few bottles.

But even if wine shops, butcher shops, chocolate shops, and neighborhood bakeries are potentially seeing a slight uptick this year, the reality is that Ungrafted, like many other food businesses, is struggling to plan and coordinate staffing. It cut back to four employees, two in the front and two in the back. There are more people leaving this industry now than ever before, and we need good people to work in this industry, says Gaither. And I can say this as a Black man this industry is adversely affecting BIPOC people, and its driving a lot of people that would be amazing in this industry away.

So for diners who have their hearts set on just one small piece of normalcy, to sit down to a nice dinner with a nice glass of wine this Valentines Day, unfortunately, this is still not a normal time for restaurants. Outdoor dining reservations are going to get snapped up. Takeout specials will sell out fast. Restaurants are just reawakening from a long, cold winter, and facing so many limitations, and operating with a skeleton crew. We are doing our best; please just be patient, says Thomas from the GGRA.

Gardelle says that going into his 25th year of business, Chapeau has endured downturns before, following the 9/11 attacks and the 2008 stock-market crash, but losing all of the holidays has been terrible. We know how to survive. But its been very, very difficult. The second [surge] was terrible. It was very, very bad. Still, the French chef still has a touch of the hopeless romantic in him. It is what it is. If we all comply, in a year, it will be just a souvenir just a memory.

Follow this link:
SF Restaurants Are Feeling Lonely This Valentines Day - Eater SF

The stormy winter weather isnt over just yet.

Much of Massachusetts should see some light snowfall and freezing rainfall over the weekend as a light winter storm moves in, according to the National Weather Service.

A hazardous weather outlook has been issued for nearly the entire state, excluding the Berkshires. Minor snow accumulations are possible Saturday night into Sunday. Forecasters arent expecting much more than an inch or 2 across interior Massachusetts, with mainly an inch or less predicted elsewhere.

Less than an inch of snow is forecast on the Cape and Islands, and up to 2 inches could fall in Boston, Worcester, Springfield and the Berkshires, the weather service said.

Snowfall is expected to change over to light freezing rainfall or sleet by Sunday, mainly across northern Connecticut, Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, where milder air should develop south of the Massachusetts Turnpike, according to the agency.

Icing, along with sleet and freezing rain, may be a concern late Saturday in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Another storm system may hit southern New England late Monday into Tuesday, bringing several inches of snow as well as mixed precipitation and ice to Massachusetts, though the forecast is subject to change more than 72 hours out.

Read the original post:
Light winter storm to bring 1 to 2 inches of snow, freezing rain and some ice accumulations to Massachusetts - MassLive.com