Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Repairs and cleaning of the Alamos Long Barrack will soon begin as conservation experts determine the best way to preserve one of the oldest buildings in Texas.

Roof repairs at the mission-era structure began Monday and are expected to be completed by Friday. Cleaning of the exterior walls will begin later this month, as early as Feb. 15. But the state-owned Alamo complex will remain open to the public.

Just like when caring for artifacts like historic documents and artwork, the Long Barrack needs cleaning every so often, Alamo conservator Pamela Jary Rosser said. We will use the gentlest methods possible to clean the stones in the Long Barrack walls, using skilled masonry cleaners, and will not perform any repairs that pose a risk of damaging the structure.

On ExpressNews.com: Work to determine if Alamo church exterior was painted in mission era

During recent archaeological investigations in the Long Barrack, the Alamo preservation team discovered blisters in its replacement roof, installed in 1975, resulting from cracks in a roof membrane added in 2014. Parts of the roof have bulges up to 12 inches high from moisture infiltrating the membrane, which is under warranty. Areas where blistering has occurred are being repaired this week.

The long, rectangular building is less celebrated than the iconic Alamo church. But it was among the first structures built after the site became the third and final location of San Antonios first permanent mission in 1724. Much of its west and south walls are of original mission-era construction.

The Long Barrack was built by Spanish craftsmen and indigenous people living near the Mission San Antonio de Valero. It was completed by the 1740s as a two-story convento, where Spanish friars lived and worked. Later, as part of a fort, it housed a jail and, on the second floor, the first hospital in Texas, dating to 1805.

The Long Barrack also is the location where a high concentration of Texian and Tejano Alamo defenders are believed to have died in hand-to-hand fighting in the early morning battle of March 6, 1836.

Decades after the battle, the building was part of a grocery and liquor store. It was threatened with demolition by a hotel developer when Clara Driscoll and Adina de Zavala worked to save it in 1903, starting a new era of Alamo custodianship by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. The DRT renovated the building to house museum exhibits in 2005.

The building has been closed to the public in recent years for archaeological digs conducted to preserve the church and Long Barrack. Excavations in the Long Barrack have unearthed 1800s musket balls and other artillery, and a piece of earthenware believed to date from 1650 to 1725. Archaeologists also found, about 5 feet below the surface, what they believe is the base of the Long Barracks original mission-era west wall, the oldest intact structure at the Alamo, with a foundation dating to the 1720s.

On ExpressNews.com: Early mission era artifact unearthed at Alamo in downtown San Antonio

In the weeks ahead, masons will clean the exterior limestone walls with water, specialized soap and soft-bristle brushes to remove dirt and black and dark green biological growth so the preservation team can assess the condition of the stones and mortar for a long-term repair and treatment plan.

In a YouTube video posted by the Alamo, Rosser explained that a very gentle cleaning process will remove the growth materials and contaminants that visually obscure details and conditions of the stone and grout.

And then the building will be preserved in the best manner possible, she said.

shuddleston@express-news.net

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Cleaning, repairs to begin at Alamos Long Barrack, one of the oldest structures in Texas - San Antonio Express-News

HARTLAND When the Village Board gathers on Monday evening it will hear a presentation on a developers plan to transform the historic Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church property at 415 W. Capitol Drive into an event center and small hotel.

According to a staff memo, the church would be expanded and transformed into an event space, while the existing house on the property would be razed and replaced with a new house that could house event center patrons.

The church addition would be about 1,500 square feet. The single-family house would be roughly 2,000 square feet and have underground parking.

Developer Miller Marriot Construction Co., LLC, has had several successful projects in the village, the memo states, and will be on hand to explain his proposal to trustees on Monday.

The future of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church property has been a topic of discussion in recent years in the village. The building had previously been eyed by the village as a potential community center, but that plan ultimately fizzled.

In 2018 the church announced that it was hoping to sell the building and would be moving services to its school campus at 1023 E. Capitol Drive. According to a calendar on the churchs website, however, many services are still taking place at the church. The church is still owned by the congregation, according to online tax records.

Political signs

Trustees on Monday are also expected to review some proposed changes to the villages sign ordinance, most of them designed to ease restrictions on political yard signs.

The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, 210 Cottonwood Ave.

Read more:
Developer wants to make Hartland church into event center - Greater Milwaukee Today

Bob Montgomery|Herald-Journal

Many road and bridge projects are planned this year in Spartanburg County by state and county transportation departments.

Funded projects on county-maintained roads this year include:

Intersection improvements at 4th Street/Hanging Rock and Valley Falls roads in Boiling Springs; Lightwood Knott and South Hammett Roads at Reidville Road; Willis Road at U.S. 29; and the installation of a traffic signal on S.C. 290 at Draexlmaierin Duncan.

Also, the county will continue to resurface roads, replace and repair bridges and large culverts on county-owned roads.

More: Spartanburg County roads see greater need than road projects planned

Projects planned on county-maintained bridges and culvert replacements include:

Calvary Road Bridge, Miller Town RoadBridge, Gate Road Bridge, Rabbit Moffit Road Bridge, Reidville Sharon Road Bridge, Beardon Road Bridge, Waspnest Road Bridge, Frey Road Bridge, and Settles Road Bridge.

More: A look at some of the key Spartanburg County, state road improvements planned for 2021

Spartanburg County Public Works Director Travis Brown said county road projects such as improvements in Boiling Springs near Highway 9 are often done in tandem with state Transportation Department projects.

At the recent Spartanburg County Transportation Committee, comprised of state lawmakers who represent all or parts of Spartanburg County, these new projects were approved:

Highway 14 East paving; widening of Robinson Road from Fulmer Drive to Highway 290; paving of Sloan Road/Mill Gin Road, from Jordan Road to Mt. Lebanon Road; paving of Shiloh Church Road, from Highway 358 to Wasp Nest Road; paving of Westmoreland Road in Greer; paving of East Church and Savannah streets, Tumbler Rock Road and Pebble Court in Cowpens; Edwards Lane in Duncan.

Also, Woods Chapel and Victor Hill Road intersection project; and curb, gutter and storm drainage improvements to Preston Street in Spartanburg.

S.C. Department of Transportation projects planned in Spartanburg County this year include:

Lyman Traffic Triangle, $6.5 million. Construction is expected to start this fall. Improvements to main intersection areas in the town of Lyman: U.S. 29 at Pine Ridge Road; S.C. 358/Holly Springs Road at Pine Ridge Road; S.C. 129 at Holly Springs Road and U.S 29. at S.C. 292.Nearby in Lyman, left turn lanes on U.S. 29 at Pine Ridge Road will be lengthened and left turn lanes added on Pine Ridge Road.

Chesnee Highway and Old Post Road intersection. A traffic light will be installed, and a right turn lane added on eastbound Chesnee Highway, as well as left turn lanes on all four legs of the intersection.

Old Post Road and Hyatt Street intersection. A traffic light will be installed and the intersection will be reconfigured to allow for through traffic to and from Interstate 85 along Hyatt Street, construction of a right turn lane on eastbound Old Post Road, and a left turn lane added on northbound Hyatt Street.

Farmington Road will be extended a short distance to align with Old Post Road after the Old Post Road/Hyatt Street intersection is modified.The project is needed due to anticipated growth in the Gaffney area and the corridors proximity to both I-85 and the Gaffney Premium Outlets.

Country Club Road corridor. The existing corridor is primarily a two-lane roadway that connects the City of Spartanburg at Union Street and South Pine Street to Glendale.The $6 million project is near the trailhead of the Mary Black Rail Trail and trails near Glendale Shoals and is expected to start this spring.The road will be widened, drainage improved and safety upgrades at key intersections for a multi-use pathway.

A roundabout at S.C. 11 and Paris Bridge Road.

Planned paving and widening projects included in DOT's 10-year planin Spartanburg County include:

Holly Springs Road (SC 358), 3.3 miles; Bryant Road, 1.15 miles; Southgate Drive; 0.35 miles; Brice Road, 1 mile; Old Georgia Road, 2.65 miles; Lawson Road, 1.68 miles; Freeman Farm Road, 0.33 miles; Walnut Grove Road, 1.69 miles; Greenpond Road, 3.5 miles; S.C. Highway 101, 11.3 miles; S.C. 14 (East Rutherford Street), 1.45 miles; S.C. Highway 14 East, 0.54 miles; S.C. Highway 417, 2.3 miles.

Also, Waddell Road, 1.83 miles; Fairfield Road, 0.9 miles; Fairfield Street, 0.51 miles; West Georgia Road, 2.69 miles; West Georgia Street, 0.89 miles; S.C. 292 (Inman Road), 2.59 miles; S.C. 292 (Lyman Road), 2.61 miles; South Pine Street, 0.52 miles;U.S. Highway 176 Bypass, 2.93 miles; S.C. Highway 14 West, 3.7 miles; S.C. Highway 14 (West Rutherford Street), 0.86 miles; S.C. Highway 56, 22.73 miles.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers from Spartanburg County are allocated state funds to designate for road projects in their districts.

Is there a road or project in Spartanburg County you want us to check on? Email Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com.

Read more from the original source:
Here's a list of road projects planned in Spartanburg County for this year - Spartanburg Herald Journal

From the time they met, Mark and Christina Thomas were married within a year. Yet they werent exactly an instant match.

We didnt hit it off right away, because hes bold and Im a little more shy, Christina said. The first question he asked me was, If you were to die today, would you go to heaven? I was like, Yeah, of course. What do you mean? Then I pondered that thought and began considering what it meant. I thought that was a little strange and bold, but it did make me think.

The Carmel couple will celebrate 21 years of marriage Feb. 12, two days before Valentines Day. Mark, raised a Baptist, was 30 when they married, and Christina, raised a Catholic, was 10 years younger.

Former Colts defensive end Mark Davis celebrates a tackle of former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe during a home game. (Submitted photo)

The two met in a Chicago gym where Christina worked. Mark, a defensive end, had played with the Chicago Bears but was now playing for the Indianapolis Colts and was in the process of a move. He learned Christina was going to school for interior design, and she suggested he look at furniture from her uncles store for his new home in Carmel. She came to Carmel to help him set up his house.

The couple would meet with Colts teammates Hunter Smith, Jeff Saturday, Justin Snow and Adam Meadows on Monday nights for a Bible study born out of the Champions for Christ athletic ministry.

The couple was supposed to get married April 1, 2000 but moved it up to hold a ceremony at a Champions for Christ conference in Orlando.

We were champing at the bit to get married, Mark said.

They would later have a wedding ceremony in the Chicago area, but Mark wanted football and ministry friends to attend. Close friends attended as well.

We had an ulterior motive. We wanted people close to us to get a dose of Jesus and we knew they would never come to a conference, Mark said. Members of (Christinas) family got saved. Her parents got saved. It was a powerful week. It wasnt the most aesthetic wedding. It was borderline cheesy. We were married in a ballroom. But lives were forever changed from the wedding.

When Mark retired from the Colts after the 2001 season, he attended a two-year program with Champions for Christ in Austin, Texas, to become a pastor. He returned to become pastor of a Carmel church in 2003, leaving in 2018. The church, which has undergone several name changes, is now The Well in Carmel.

Because I wore so many hats as pastor, I started counseling people, and then more and more people came as couples and Christina would join us, he said. We work well together. We were five years into marriage and shes only 25 and counseling people that are twice her age. The Lord just gave her wisdom and people benefited from it. We enjoy doing it together, and the way were wired is so different.

Sometimes, it was a one-week counseling session and sometimes it would be 10 weeks. If he was going to perform a marriage ceremony, Mark said he would usually have six to eight pre-marriage counseling sessions.

The couple could speak from their own experiences.

We faced a lot of challenges early in our marriage with job loss and moving across the country. We had four kids in six years, Christina said. Our youngest has special needs.

Christina said they dont officially charge for the counseling service.

Weve just always said whatever you think its worth, but weve never said this is our rate, Mark said. It hasnt been that formal. Its just been they need help, and they are our friends, or they introduce us to their friends.

From left, Katelyn Thomas, Christina Thomas, Deb Hudson and Mark Thomas attend a house church session. (Submitted photo)

Besides counseling couples, Mark Thomas leads a group of friends in a service called house church in the home of he and his wife, Christina, or a cabin on their property. Its typically a group of approximately 20 people. House church is a term given to a group of Christians meeting in private homes.

What we like about it is that it fosters, almost necessitates, community, he said. This is who we are with all the time. Realistically, three to five times a week these people are in our home. We actually do life together. The other thing it really cultivates is participatory gatherings.

Instead of a minister delivering a sermon, everyone participates.

Its discussion-based, instead of just monologue, Mark said. What this does is, my kids are all involved, and they love it. The dialogue process helps people grow and mature.

The couple has four children: Caleb, Katelyn, Naomi and Jude.

The couple conducted services by Zoom for nearly two months when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a lockdown.

All of us in the family then had COVID around the same time at Thanksgiving, Christina said. We think our youngest son got it from going to an arcade.

But they have been able to resume services after a break.

Once every other month, well do it at someone elses house to spread it out, Mark said.

The cabin on the couples 8-acre property was the first house built in Carmel. Constructed in 1828, it was originally owned by the Kinzer family. The main house was built in the 1840s.

The deed is on sheepskin, Christina said of the property, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The couple also keeps busy as Mark has found a way to assist in Christinas home design business.

Instead of just wanting interior design ideas, she was finding clients would want a new master bathroom or kitchen.

We decided to do a design and remodel business, said Mark, who has taken on the role of project manager. I handle the construction, and she handles the design.

See more here:
Legacy of love: Former Colt, wife work together to improve marriages, homes Current Publishing - Current in Carmel

If youre in the middle of designing a new kitchen or you just want to spruce up an old kitchen design, you might be considering a new look for your kitchen cabinets. If you want to save money by not replacing your cabinets with brand new ones, then you have a couple of options available to you refacing cabinets or painting them.

Both cabinet painting and refacing have pros and cons to consider, and you must choose the method which best suits your existing kitchen cabinetry. Ultimately, youre trying to make the most out of your old cabinets, so you need to choose your new kitchen look based around their condition and style.

Our Kitchen Infinity staff is going to help explain the difference between cabinet refacing vs cabinet painting and answer your most common questions!

Cabinet refacing is when you give your kitchen cabinets a new look by replacing the front-facing hardware but leaving the cabinetry framework in place. The cabinets frames and internal shelves remain the same, but you get brand new cabinet doors, hinges, handles, and fixtures.

Basically, youre replacing the parts that people can see.

If youre choosing a very different color scheme to your old cabinets, you might use a wood veneer (or possibly paint) to change the color of the old cabinetry framework so it matches the new cabinet doors design. This way, you can give the illusion of brand new cabinets, even though the core of the refaced cabinets hasnt really changed.

Refaced cabinets are ideal if youre happy with the layout of your kitchen and the storage space you have, but you just want a fresh look. Refaced cabinets might have new doors and drawer fronts, as well as new hinges, door handles, and other pieces of hardware.

Painting

The real difference between painting (or refinishing) and refacing your cabinets is relatively straight forward. Painting your cabinets gives your existing cabinetry a fresh look, whereas refacing them gives your cabinets almost an entirely new look. Cabinets refacing should not be confused with resurfacing or refinishing. A resurface cabinet is an old cabinet which has been sanded down (assuming its wooden) to create a new design, but this is not always possible because lots of existing cabinets will not be thick enough to be sanded down into new styles.

You cant salvage everything!

Refacing

On the other hand, refacing your cabinets is when you replace the doors and drawer fronts entirely you dont try to salvage the old ones. The idea is that youre giving a new face to the existing cabinet framework. However, with refinishing or resurfacing, youre polishing up or sanding down the existing front-facing doors.

Its easy to get this mixed up when every term starts with re.

Basically, you should reface cabinet designs if the front-facing doors are ugly and you want to change them entirely. However, if the cabinet front-facing doors are in good condition and you just want to modify their style, refinishing or resurfacing could be the way to go.

Obviously, cabinet painting is when you repaint your existing cabinet doors with new paint. You can always paint your unfinished cabinets yourself. Although this sounds like the better option, its not always the case. Painted cabinet boxes can easily flake, peel, or fade in a kitchen environment, especially if youre cleaning them frequently. The more you clean them, the easier it is for the paint to fade away over time.

They can also look a little drab if youre not careful, so beware.

Also bear in mind that painted kitchen cabinet naturally attract dust, dirt, and grime, so youre going to need to clean more often and just generally get more maintenance done on them. It becomes a vicious circle because the paint attracts dust, so you need to clean them a lot, but then you remove the paint by cleaning them.

Not ideal.

While its very possible to paint your unfinished kitchen cabinets yourself, especially if youre good with DIY, I wouldnt recommend that most people do this. Although painting cabinet doors and drawer fronts looks easy, its easy to have streaky, splotchy, and uneven finishes if youre not a professional painter.

Its not as easy as it looks!

Painting around the sides of hinges and door handles is very intricate work, as it will look incredibly sloppy if you dont do it right. Also, if youre not careful, its easy to get drips of stray paint on your expensive granite countertops or other pricey pieces of kitchen equipment. In general, its just not worth the risk. Hire a professional if youre going to paint your kitchen cabinets. And if youre going to DIY think about the best finish for your kitchen cabinets.

Replacing cabinets requires you to buy completely new cabinetry from top to bottom, while cabinet refinishing requires some maintenance so its usually cheaper. When you reface cabinets, youre only replacing hardware for the doors (and possibly a veneer for the framework) but when you replace the cabinets, youre buying EVERYTHING new again the doors, the frames, the shelves, everything.

So yes, refacing cabinets is almost always cheaper than replacing them entirely.

The only exception would be if you wanted to replace your old kitchen cabinet with VERY basic and cheap cabinets rather than refacing them with a more luxurious front-facing design. Ultimately, it all depends on the condition of your current kitchen cabinets and how you want them to look when the redesign is complete. Kitchen renovation is an expensive task so if you could save some bucks by refinishing cabinets, then go for it!

Generally speaking, cabinet refacing does add significant value to your home when it comes time to sell. Although the ROI is hard to measure accurately, there are estimates that homes with refaced kitchen cabinets see profits of 50% for the work completed when it comes time to sell.

Quite an impressive way to add value!

On the other hand, people who replaced their kitchen cabinets entirely only see around a 30% profit when it comes time to resell because theyve had to spend a lot more money on installing brand-new cabinets from top to bottom. If your old kitchen cabinets are in a decent condition, refacing just makes more financial sense. We are that by now the difference between cabinet refacing vs painting is becoming more apparent.

If you like your cabinets but you just want to freshen them up or update their color scheme, then painting could be a decent option for you. However, bear in mind that paint will only last so long before it begins to fade, chip, peel, and require maintenance work. The life expectancy of cabinets depends on whether you do them yourself or not.

If you paint the cabinets yourself (assuming that you do a good paint job) then the paint should look decent for at least a couple of years before it might start to need maintenance. Painting cabinet doors not only adds freshness to your kitchen look but also saves the face frames, base cabinets and cabinet boxes from water damage. Its useful to know how to repair water damaged cabinetry. But obviously regarding the paint on your cabinets, this is very subjective and depends on your kitchen and how much you use it regularly.

We dont all have time to cook every night!

On the other hand, if you get a professional team to paint your kitchen cabinets, they could easily last for 8-15 years on average, though they may require maintenance work from time to time. Painted wood cabinets will last for a while, but refaced cabinets will undoubtedly have a longer life expectancy in your kitchen.

So, you dont know whether painting or refacing is right for your cabinets. Well, the choice ultimately comes down to the condition of the cabinetry, the overall feel youre going for, and what youre trying to achieve with the kitchen design.

Here are some tips to help you decide between painting and refacing:

You should reface your kitchen cabinets if they meet the following criteria:

You should be painting your kitchen cabinets if they meet the following criteria:

I know its not always easy to decide, but hopefully these tips have given you some food for thought (no kitchen puns intended).

I hope youve enjoyed this guide to cabinet painting and refacing. Redesigning your kitchen can be difficult at the best of times, so its essential to work with reliable contractors and interior designers who have your best interests at heart, as well as the homes future resale value.

While painting cabinets may seem like the cheaper and easier option, refacing your cabinetry is a very cost-effective way to give your home a significant facelift without breaking the bank in the process. If youre happy with the layout and condition of your existing cabinetry, refacing can be a very sensible idea.

Either way, we wish you luck!

Read the original here:
Cabinet Refacing vs Painting | Which Should You Choose?

Every Friday, SAfms radio anchor Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly. Reported here is this Fridays At the Coalface transcript:

Kamwendo: South Africas mining industry is at the ready to make big investments into electricity generation.

Creamer: This was made very clear this week at the ENSafrica conference when the head of Eskom Andre de Ruyter said he would support red tape being removed to allow the private-sector to self-generate 50 MW of electricity unrestricted. At the moment, if you dont want red-tape, you do 1 MW, which is hopelessly inadequate. Now, they want the nod to be given to 50 MW without red tape.

I personally got 12 responses immediately from organisations saying they were ready now to invest and move in with renewable energy, particularly mining companies, because theyre facing higher upcoming Eskom power tariffs. Theyre going to have to pay more for electricity. There are so many mining companies around that want renewable energy on their mine sites.

The mines dont even have to set it up themselves; all they have got to do is agree to buy the electricity from an independent power producer at a certain price, which is always below the Eskom price. So, a huge surge, which could mean about 5000MW of new electricity, is likely, which would help to take the strain off Eskom. This needs to go ahead and were looking to the Cabinet to give the nod, fast.

Kamwendo: The Northern Cape this week received another boost with the announcement of a new mining development.

Creamer: Its amazing that a company with a primary listing in Australia, secondary listing in Joburg, can pave the way for new mine development, junior mining development, like no other company in South Africa. The South Africans seem unable to do it. Now, Orion Minerals has come in with a second big base metals hub.

They are just about to release the Prieska hub, which is a magnificent project for them, because its an existing but closed mine and they found so much new copper and zinc and base metals around it. Now, probably in 18 to 24 months time, they could well come in with a second one. This time at Okiep, near the town of Springbok, 450km away, which is also very rich in available resources information, also has ready-built infrastructure, and also has an existing but closed mine there to build on, and then expand, because there is so much more scope around there.

These two hubs could be a major boost to the economy of the Northern Cape. We know that the Northern Cape is very prospective, but South Africans have been so slow in turning this great mineral endowment to positive account. South Africans dont explore, and here you get Orion Minerals coming in with a primary listing in Australia, showing us the way, how to do these things, because were really not good at junior mining.

Kamwendo: This weeks Mining Indaba saw Botswana going all out to attract new investment in exploration.

Creamer: Its very good that the country next door, Botswana, is also showing us how fast they can move, and how slow we move here. We still havent come out with our exploration strategy, and the President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi was full of life at the Mining Indaba.

He was saying Botswana is ready to go ahead at full steam. Botswana has got new geoscience information, new digitising techniques, and intends using these to attract international investors and local investors, and President Masisi is opening the way for them. Already Botswana has shown that it can attract exploration investment, but it wants to do so even more intensely, because its far too heavily linked to diamonds, and it needs to move into the other metals and minerals.

President Masisi also pointed out that Botswana is endowed with copper, for which there is significant upcoming demand, gold, nickel, soda ash and other metals and minerals. President Masisi also indicated that Botswana has got potential in new-era metals, the rare earths and lithium. We know in Namibia they found lithium. We know that Botswana has already attracted exploration investment and I think that it is setting a very good example for us to follow, with President Masisi determined to attract more foreign investment into Botswana, to do exploration, a low-hanging investment fruit.

Kamwendo: Thanks very much. Martin Creamer is publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly.

Read the rest here:
On-The-Air (05/02/2021) - Creamer Media's Mining Weekly

Not with this one, though. Designer Valerio Rivellini of Studio Tecnico Rivellini unveiled a new superyacht concept that puts all Transformer cars to shame. Its a shape-shifting, 184-foot (65-meter) vessel thats part superyacht, part explorer, and all pure luxury.

Here is the aptly titled Extended Explorer.

The highlight, though, is the expanding stern. This isnt the first time that Rivellini tries something like this. In fact, back in 2015, the studio penned another concept that had an expanding cockpit. Extended Explorer applies the same idea, but to a more striking effect: thanks to a single lowerable platform on each side, both the upper and the main deck expand outwards at the same time.

The result is nothing to scoff at:

In addition to opening up both decks at the stern and thus erasing physical barriers between guests and the surrounding elements, there is a more practical consequence to this. The available on-deck space nearly doubles, which renders it perfect for a variety of new uses, whether for entertainment or exploring.

For instance, the studio notes, the stern of the upper deck could serve for sunbathing and/or a relaxation area. Chaise-lounges would fit laterally, a conversation area would be located towards the stern, while al fresco dining would be possible in an expansive area in the center. Now expanded, the main deck could fit an outdoor gym and an extra sunbathing area, in addition to the already generous beach club. Stairs leading from the beach club directly into the water would offer easy access to water.

In the end, though, the use of this readily-available space would be entirely up to the owner. Everything about Extended Explorer is customizable, the studio says, depending on individual taste and, of course, the kind of sailing it would be used for. No sense in decking it out with chaise-lounges if youre going to sail it on Arctic adventures.

The interior would have customizable layouts but the same choice of fine, sustainable materials. The overall feel is elegant, relaxed, timeless, and luxurious but in the most simple form. In keeping with the idea of offering an authentic relationship with the sea, the marine inspiration would be obvious in the choice of nubuck leather fabrics in blue shades and white lacquer.

The owners suite occupies most of the entire upper deck and comes with super-panoramic views, including of the wheelhouse. Rivellini does not detail the other suites available or, for that matter, the guest capacity of this new project.

Link:
Extended Explorer Concept With Expanding Deck Is a Different Kind of Transformer - autoevolution

After nearly a year of spending more time at home, are you daydreaming of a new outdoor space to enjoy the fresh air and relax, or to safely congregate with friends and extended family? Wintertime may not seem like the obvious time to start planning such a project, but the months before the weather begins to turn warm provides plenty of time to consider all the optionsfrom layout and style to materials and cost. If youre contemplating a new deck, TimberTech capped polymer and composite decking products check all the boxes: looks, variety, durability, and sustainability.

This penthouse apartment in Chicago comes with a dreamy rooftop that is clad in TimberTech AZEK capped polymer decking. An expansive overhang provides shade for the dining area and outdoor kitchen.

Views from the rooftop also overlook the world-famous Chicago skyline, including sights such as the 100-story skyscraper at 875 North Michigan Avenue, colloquially known as the John Hancock Center.

Thanks to recent product enhancements, the market for composite decking has been growingwith even more interest throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "This was a trend that began even before the pandemic but were continuing to see increased interest in outdoor living design, including decks, as people seek places to escape and, in general, want to spend more time outdoors," says Bethany Sanker, VP of Integrated Marketing at the AZEK Company, the group behind TimberTech decking. "Our contractor partners reported stronger than normal demand throughout 2020 and indicate they expect this to continue in 2021."

Along the opposite side of the rooftop, a seating area is topped by a large pergola. TimberTechs composite boards are manufactured using a multi-stage color blending system that adds subtle highlights and low-lights to convincingly recreate the look and feel of real wood.

Depending on the scale and location, it can sometimes take up to six months to design and build a deck, factoring in time for the initial research and material selection, as well as the extended lead time many contractors and designers now require. "Construction typically occurs in warmer months, which makes winter the perfect time to start the process so you can enjoy your deck as early as spring," Sanker adds.

Whether youre renovating an outdoor space or creating it from scratch, consider this: even a consistently maintained wooden deck has a service life of around 15-20 years. In comparison, TimberTech AZEK's low-maintenance capped polymer deckingwhich bears a striking resemblance to real woodcomes with a lifetime warranty and wont rot, warp, or splinter like traditional pressure-treated wood. All of this is possible even as each decking product is engineered with majority recycled material, which allowed the company to utilize nearly 400 million pounds of scrap and wastesuch as sawdust and plastic bottlesin their manufacturing process just last year.

For this project, the designers selected boards from the TimberTech AZEK Vintage Collection in English Walnut. The Vintage Collection also includes a variety of other sizes and colorsfrom Weathered Teak to Dark Hickorywhile the alternative TimberTech PRO and TimberTech EDGE product lines provide additional options.

Wondering where to get started? Sanker first suggests considering whether you can tackle the project yourself or need to hire a contractor, whom youll want to involve during the design phase as well. "TimberTech offers a project checklist, which covers the major steps from design ideas to scheduling your deck installation," she explains. "Our free online deck design tool also allows you to review 3D plans and templates or create a virtual model from scratch."

TimberTech AZEK products utilize industry-leading technology for better slip resistance and fire safety, as well as exterior finishes that help to keep the boards cooler to the touch.

Other tips from Sanker include considering multi-width boards to mimic wood flooring inside your home or adding a perimeter board in a different color to provide an accent. "Popular trends for the new year also include distressed and weathered finishes that recreate the randomness of wood grain as compared to composite boards in a repeating pattern," she says.

At night, lights along the rooftop create a cozy atmosphere for observing the cityscape.

"Ultimately, its important to remember that youre building an outdoor living area, not just a deck," Sanker adds. With a variety of colors, wood grain finishes, and sizes, TimberTech offers a myriad of options for creating your own dream space. If youre feeling inspired, go ahead and order free samples to see the colors, materials, and textures in person and get a sense of how they look in your space.

Take a Dual-Application ApproachUse TimberTech Composite Boards as Cladding

For those already working on a composite deck installation, the time couldnt be better to integrate deck boards into premium-performance exterior cladding as well. TimberTechs wide range of boardsavailable in various widths, colors, grain patternscan also be used to create durable and eye-catching accent walls along your homes facade. Not only would the cladding be low-maintenance just like your new deck, but the dual-application approach can also boost the overall curb appeal of your home.

Visit the TimberTech website to learn more about their products or locate a contractor.

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From Rooftops to Backyards, Now Is the Best Time to Design Your Dream Outdoor Space - Dwell

Actually, I became Captain of Below Deck quite by accident. The boat that I was running, it was a 50-meter Benetti, and my boss calls me up at the Miami Boat Show and he says, Some TV network to do a TV show on the boat, and they want to charter her for six weeks. And all you have to do is go down to Saint Martin and drop the boat off. Theyve got their own captain, theyve got their own crew. And you hang out on the beach and go check the boat out once every three days, and youll get paid double. I said yeah, I can live with that. But then for one reason or another, the captain that they had selected couldnt fulfill his obligations. So they had a conundrum, because were already late into the game and they needed a captain, so they said, Well, I guess well use the old guy.

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Why Below Deck's Captain Lee Rosbach Wasn't Originally Meant To Be On The Show - CinemaBlend

Below Deck may have had four captains but at least seven chief stews have graced the franchise thus far.

The series launched in 2013 with Adrienne Gang running the interior on Below Deck. But after one season, Gang was replaced with Kate Chastain, who remained in the position for six seasons. Francesca Rubi took over for Chastain on Below Deck Season 8.

Both Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Sailing Yacht have had two chief stews thus far. Hannah Ferrier did nearly five seasons in the Med but was fired mid-season during season 5. Christine Bugsy Drake replaced Ferrier and finished out the season. Below Deck Sailing Yacht began with Jenna MacGillivray as the chief stew, but the second season has a new chief stew.

Gang may not have realized that she had a target on her back during season 1. Chastain was working with chef Rachel Hargrove at the time and told Hargrove she planned to take Gangs job.

So this first season chief stew [Gang] was from Tampa and the chef [Hargrove] on the yacht I was working on, Rachel, she was like, Im from Tampa, I hate that b*tch! Chastain said on theTaste of Taylorpodcast in 2019.

RELATED: Below Deck: Kate Chastain Revealed That Chef Rachel and Adrienne Gang Got Into a Tampa Style Smackdown in the Past

I was working as a chief stew on a boat, same size, Chastain added. The chief stew from season 1 [Gang], she was really bad. She was bad at her job, she had wet hair on camera. Chastain was also working as a ghostwriter on a book about yachting. Casting agents contacted Chastain and the rest is history.

When that happened I was like, Its happening, she remarked.

Drake worked as a second stew during Below Deck Med Season 2 and had tension with Ferrier. Chef Adam Glick stirred the pot when he suggested that Drake should be chief stew. But Drake ultimately agreed, confronting Ferrier toward the end of the season.

When the second stew position opened up during season 5, Captain Sandy Yawn hired Drake to return. Ferrier looked freaked. Despite the animosity in the past, the two ended up working well together. But their working relationship didnt last very long. During a cabin swap, bosun Malia White busted Ferrier for having unregistered valium and a vape pen in her room.

RELATED: Below Deck Med: Hannah Ferrier Says Bugsy Drake Had Nothing to Do With the Valium Photo

Ferrier was swiftly fired. Drake was quickly moved into the chief stew position, but Ferrier does not blame Drake for what transpired. Hey guys thanks so much for all your kind words and support, Ferrier shared onTwitter. I feel like Bugs has been pulled into this situation so I want to make something clear. I dont believe Bugs had anything to do with the photo being sent to sandy or the subsequent consequences.

MacGillivray launched the newest series, Below Deck Sailing Yacht but was on the receiving end of a lot of fan backlash. Some viewers thought she was too harsh with her stews. Plus fans thought her relationship with Glick, who was the crossover chef, clouded her judgement. Daisy Kelliher moves into the chief stew position for season 2.

MacGillivray found out the hard way that online hate can be overwhelming. She shared a few social media posts about the abuse, trying to remind viewers she was only human.

RELATED: Below Deck Sailing Yacht: Jenna MacGillivray Shares That the Online Hate Has Become Too Much to Handle

I can only be strong for so long, she shared on her Instagram story in May. The amount of sh*t Ive gotten online is getting to me. Please, if you feel the need to write something awful to me, dont. Im a person with feelings and its too much.

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'Below Deck': How Many Chief Stews Have Appeared on the Franchise? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet