Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

When asked about his favorite book, 28-year-old Brian Marin immediately rattles off The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas. But ask for more of his top titles, he has a hard time choosing. Marin goes deep into thought, thinking about the numerous books he has read in his lifetime.

Theyre all great for their own reasons, he said. I was interested in books before I knew how to read. I would even draw pictures and have my mom write stories that I dictated to her before preschool.

Its safe to say Marin loves books.

So, it only makes sense that Marin is the owner of Westside Stories, an established bookstore in Old Colorado City formerly known as The Bookman. Books are what initially landed Marin a job at The Bookman, which has been in operation since 1991.

I initially volunteered to help them move because I lived a block away from the new location, he said. Then they asked me for a resume, and I became a manager. Eventually, I made them an offer to buy the business.

The previous owner, who had been living in New York for several years, officially sold the store to Marin in January. With the new owner came a new name for the store, something Marin hopes highlights the changes hes making.

From new floors to new books, the store has undergone significant transformations in the last several months. The store may look the same from West Colorado Avenue with the same marquis BOOKS sign. Still, as you walk inside, youll notice new floors and new products throughout the building.

With the help of people like Betty Varland, who calls herself Brians assistant manager, Marin renovated the store and changed the look.

We have literally been down in the dirt with that store just remodeling, Varland said. Brian put in a new floor in the back. I wallpapered the walls of the bathroom with book pages. We changed around the layout of the store almost completely.

In addition, Marin wanted to transition the store from selling only used books to introducing new products. He donated about one-fourth of their old inventory.

It was 100% used books, and now about 20% of my inventory is new, he said. Ive introduced a lot of product lines, from stickers and patches to journals and puzzles ... everything I thought was cool.

Brian completely changed everything about The Bookman and turned it into Westside Stories, Varland said. Its just really been incredible to watch him transition from a guy with a dream to the owner of a really beautiful little store.

Even though Marin acquired Westside Stories at the start of what would be perhaps one of the most challenging times to local businesses, he saw the pandemic as an opportunity.

The shutdown was rough, he said. But thats what gave me the inspiration to start an online portion of the business, scan all these books, and to really assess the business model.

Over the last several months, Marin has been entering all the stores products into an online system. If they cant make it out to the store, customers can shop online. Its a part of the business Marin said is really taking off.

I had 21 orders before I opened my door this morning, he said on a Thursday. Thats the power of social media. Im trying to figure out how to do international shipping.

Whether someone wants to buy in-store or online, Marin said he hopes people can find a sense of community and a haven for reading and friendship at Westside Stories.

I dont think we stick to one type of trying to sell to one type of people, he said. We embrace all different types of communities here.

The relationships and friendships Marin has found through Westside Stories are what makes him so passionate about the business. He hopes others can experience that same passion for books and community.

I want to be a household name where you can enjoy shopping with your family, your friends, he said. Theres just something intrinsically joyful about someplace thats filled with books and knowledge and different perspectives.

Varland voiced that same passion.

Westside Stories is more than just a little store for us, she said. Its not a cold and corporate store where people are just working away their hours. It is something that is made and built with heart and dirt and grit. ...

Supporting small businesses is what keeps us human because it keeps us in a community with each other.

Visit westsidestoriesco.com to shop online or learn more. Follow the store on Facebook (@WestsideStoriesBook) and Instagram (@WestsideStoriesBookstore) for updates.

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Beyond the books, Westside Stories offers community and small business charm - Colorado Springs Gazette

After living through quite possibly the worst year ever, or as columnist Sally Jenkins quipped recently, this damn zombie movie, we look back on a year in which we wrestled with a global pandemic, illness, economic distress and social upheaval.

Which makes the Pantone Color Institute, which chose Classic Blue as the Color of the Year for 2020, pretty prescient.

Its a color that anticipates whats going to happen next, Laurie Pressman, the vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, said last year in predicting a blue trend.

Pantone Color of the Year 2021: Illuminating

(Pantone)

On Dec. 9, Pantone announced that its 2021 Colors of the Year are Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, shades chosen for their warmth and dependability.

The Pantone news release announcing the colors described Illuminating as a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. Ultimate Gray, like pebbles, is emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation.

The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that its not about one color or one person, its about more than one. The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said in a news release. Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.

Pantones ability to forecast color trends is a marketing force that helps furniture, textile, fashion, accessory and technology designers choose designs from season to season. Beginning today, retailers, designers and fashion brands will flood our inboxes with gray and yellow toothbrushes and swimsuits; nail polish and exterior paint options.

Pantone Color of the Year 2021, Ultimate Gray

(Pantone)

After a tough year of sheltering in place, will homeowners who are spending money on home upgrades in place of movies, trips and dining out adopt the optimistic color palette?

Designers think so.

Yellow makes you happy and gray is the perfect neutral, said designer Cortney Novogratz of The Novogratz. We have always used yellow in our designs and products which are quite popular.

L.A. actress and designer Arden Myrin, said she painted the door of her Silver Lake bungalow a similar shade of yellow. It makes me so happy every time I see it, she said. I am a firm believer that life can be hard enough, your home should be hopeful and joyful. What a wonderful decision to pick two colors. The gray, which has been many moments in 2020, bursting through with the bold optimism of the yellow makes it feel like there is hope ahead. I have always loved a pop or yellow, and now I think we all need a pop of yellow, tempered with a nice neutral color although my neutral of choice with this color yellow is a deep navy.

Although Orlando Soria, host of HGTVs Build Me Up is a fan of pretty, ethereal, pale grays, he is not enthusiastic about Pantones shade of gray for Color of the Year. Ultimate Gray falls into a category of grays I hate: mid-tone grays, he said. I find when these are used in spaces they look dead and dull.

Still, he is on board with Illuminating. Bright, saturated colors like this make me think of Wallpaper Magazine in the early 2000s when minimal, Scandinavian design with hints of lime green and neon pink were popular, Soria said. I think the early 2000s are definitely having a comeback, especially in fashion and music (think Billie Eilishs neon-green hair and Gucci costuming). I dont know that a bunch of interior designers are gonna run out and paint rooms this bright yellow color, but I can see it on clothes when people emerge back into the world and want to make a statement.

Houzz senior editor Mitchell Parker said the home remodeling and design platform has long embraced the color pairing. Because a bright yellow color can sometimes be overwhelming in large doses, we typically see homeowners use just a small splash of it with larger swaths of gray to make a strong visual statement, he said. An example might be a gray exterior paint color paired with a pop of yellow at the front door. Or yellow furniture pieces or decor that offer a bit of flair to gray cabinets in a bathroom or kitchen. This palette also plays nicely with most wood tones. Were excited to see it garner more attention with Pantones annual designation.

UCLA economists share Pantones optimistic outlook for 2021, predicting on Wednesday that the U.S. economy will experience a gloomy COVID winter and an exuberant vaccine spring, followed by years of growth.

If the Pantone Color of the Year is designed to highlight the relationship between color trends and what is happening in the world, we can only hope that this years forecast of hope and stability is more than just an educated guess.

Originally posted here:
The Pantone Colors of the Year for 2021 are Ultimate Gray and Illuminating - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Beth Doyle (bdoyle@wickedlocal.com), Maryclare Himmel (Correspondent)| Wicked Local

A new luxury neighborhood is under construction in Hingham. Situated in a quiet corner of town near Glastonbury Abbey, Patterson Pond Estates offers eight lots arranged in a picture-perfect location around Patterson Pond. The gracious, custom-built homes offer 4,000 to 5,200 square feet of living space, depending on lot size, lot location and pricing, set on expansive lots ranging from just under an acre to 6-plus acres, some with water views and select homes boasting pond frontage. Prices range from $1,699,000 for the first, completed home, a 4,125-square foot home at No. 2 Jordan Way, to $2,500,000 for a planned 5,000-square-foot home set for ground-breaking soon.

At a Glance

Address: 2 Jordan Way, Patterson Pond Estates, Hingham

Company: William Raveis Real Estate

Website: http://www.pattersonpondestates.com, joanneconway.raveis.com

Listing agent: Joanne Conway

Email: joanne.conway@raveis.com

Telephone: 781-248-7041

Price: $1,699,000

Style: Colonial

Rooms: Eight

Bedrooms: Four

Bathrooms: Three full, one half

Living space: 4,000 square feet

Lot size: 40,031 square feet (0.91 acre)

Garage: Two-car, attached

Highlights: This spacious home is the first home completed at Hinghams newest neighborhood, Patterson Pond Estates. Located on Patterson Pond in a bucolic corner of town, the eight-lot subdivision features to-be-built custom homes ranging in size from 4,000 to 5,200 square feet set on lots of nearly 1 to 6-plus acres. The home at No. 2 Jordan Way, the Heron model, features an open, flowing first-floor plan comprising a private study; a spacious, well-equipped mudroom; and an open-concept kitchen, dining room and fireplaced family room on the first floor. High ceilings, finely crafted millwork and a multitude of large windows that admit abundant light to the rooms distinguish this stunning home. The second home, the Crane model, is nearing completion just across the roadway. Although both homes have already been sold, now is the time to get in and plan a dream home in this tranquil setting of rolling hills, mature trees and a distinct sense of quietude just a short drive to Hingham Square and the harbor.

Taxes: N/A

For more information about this home, and additional South Shore real estate news, read the South Shore Real Estate section in this weeks newspaper.

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South Shore Home of the Week: Patterson Pond Estates offers custom homes, idyllic setting - Wicked Local

A "slice of Montana". Looking for some elbow room? Enjoy the wide open spaces, views and inviting features of this attractive log home, with many amenities. This beautiful country log home on just under 5 acres features a new roof, a newly finished attached oversized double garage, PLUS large workshop, with bar that stays. Walk-out lower level with large family room for relaxing. Inviting open floor plan with 2 dining areas, large main floor laundry, country kitchen with island and double oven. Open great room with rock fireplace and bonus loft area. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, plus a bonus room, and tons of storage in lower level. Beautiful master suite with rock fireplace and large master bath, separate soaking tub and custom tile shower. Main level electric updated within the last 2 years, back deck all new, replaced 2020. This great family home features 3 gas fireplaces/stoves. MUST SEE!

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Big Homes Just Listed in the Billings Area - Statesville Record & Landmark

Congratulations to Bryan Daugherty of 3 Washington Street, Nazareth, and the Lehigh and Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum in Bethlehem for winning our 2020 Holiday Lights Contest, Tour and Fundraiser, sponsored by Bobs Valley Wide Carpet Care,Blair Custom Homes Inc. and Saucon Source.

Daugherty used a lovely display of holiday lights to line the roof and siding of his Victorian-style home, and his trees and shrubs are decorated with festive and colorful lights.

The home received just over one-third of the nearly 500 votes cast, and beat out 26 other homes with festive displays.

Bryan Doughertys historic home at 3 Washington Street in Nazareth is the winning home in our 2020 Holiday Lights Contest.

The Lehigh and Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum at 705 Linden Street in Bethlehem is decked out with an array of multi-colored lights on the front and side of the building. It even has lights lining its railroad crossing signs.

The museum received more than 40 percent of the 329 votes cast, beating out the five other business submissions.

The Lehigh and Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum on Linden Street in Bethlehem is the winning business in our 2020 Holiday Lights Contest.

More than 800 votes were cast by our readers over the past week.

The winning entrants will receive wonderful prize baskets, which include gift cards totaling more than $100 to businesses such as Thai Thai II,ROOT Crafted Cocktail Mixers,SimpliciTea & Co., PEEPS & Co., Keystone Puband Apollo Grill.

Saucon Source thanks everyone who entered the contest and took time to vote in it. The festive efforts of our 33 entrants will result in a charitable donation to the Allentown Rescue Mission, theCenter for Animal Health and Welfareand theCommunity Food Bank for the Hellertown Area Ministerium.

We are also grateful to our friends at Bobs Valley Wide Carpet Care and Blair Custom Homes Inc. for helping put together the prize baskets our winners will receive as well as supporting this fundraiser with donation commitments. Their generosity is exemplary of how our local small business community never fails to support others in times of need.

Please stay tuned for the delivery of the prize baskets and donations in the near future.

Below is a map containing all of the contest entries, so you can treat yourself to another tour of the decorated homes and businessesand admire the displays of our two winners!

View 2020 Saucon Source Lights Tour in a full screen map

Congratulations to our winning entries in the 2020 Saucon Source Holiday Lights Contest! Bryan Daughertys home at 3 Washington Street in Nazareth borough was awarded the title of winning home for receiving the most votes, while the Lehigh and Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum in Bethlehem received the grand prize in our business category.

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View the WINNERS of Saucon Sources 2020 Holiday Lights Contest - Saucon Source

Less is more in this newly built farmhouse nestled between Wilshire and Olympic boulevards in Beverly Hills. While many of its peers try to wow buyers with five-digit square footage and over-the-top amenities, this custom-built abode focuses on high-end finishes and warm, livable spaces.

The details

Location: 220 S. Wetherly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Asking price: $5.695 million

Year built: 2020

Living area: 3,745 square feet with five bedrooms and five bathrooms on a 5,921-square-foot lot

Features: Black-and-white exterior; landscaped frontyard; European white oak floors; Carrara marble; San Sebastian limestone; 13-foot vaulted ceilings; open floor plan; chandelier-topped dining room; kitchen with tiered island; floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors; primary suite with private balcony; fountain-fed swimming pool; spa

About the area: In the 90211 ZIP Code, based on two sales, the median price for single-family homes in November was $2.608 million, up 11% year over year, according to CoreLogic.

Agents: Susan Perryman, Hilton & Hyland, (310) 261-1960

To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos via Dropbox.com, permission from the photographer to publish the images and a description of the house to jack.flemming@latimes.com.

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Home of the Week: A brand-new farmhouse in Beverly Hills - Los Angeles Times

WINDSOR, ONT. -- A newly renovated home, and the surprises inside, saw a Windsor family brought together by tragedy awestruck by the promise of a new life together.

On Sunday, the keys were handed over to Terrence and Chantell Hurst, and the six Allen children the newlywed couple has taken in as their own, for a home donated by the childrens great-grandfather and made new again with the support of the community.

The Erie Street-home was renovated for the family after the Hursts decided to adopt the six orphaned Allen children following the sudden loss of the childrens parents, Carmen and Adam Allen in early September.

"This is like my dream home," said Chantell Hurst, cycling between giddy smiles and teary eyes. "Its beautiful and its truly stunning."

Caster Custom Homes partnered with 26 different businesses, foundations and donors to renovate a donated Erie Street home for the Hurst an Allen family. Sunday, December 20, 2020. (Ricardo Veneza/CTV Windsor)

Chantell knew the family and would come over to do their hair. When she heard about the familys tragedy, she felt a calling to do more.

"The Lord just laid something on my heart," said Chantell. "When they were at their house, I was doing their hair and when I realized they werent being placed anywhere, the Lord put it on my heart and then I called my husband and he just said, 'If thats what you want'."

The act saw the community respond.

Dan Caster, the president of Caster Custom Homes, worked to bring partners together to give the family a new home after he was moved by the Hursts generosity to keep the brothers and sisters together.

He has had his own brush with heartache.

"I almost lost a daughter five-and-a-half years ago in my arms," said Caster. "You realize how precious children are and you realize what life is all about. Its not all about you anymore, its about your children."

The Caster Group along with 26 partner businesses, foundations and donors came together to renovate the home donated by the Allens great grandfather.

Caster hopes the new home will be the backdrop of great new memories.

"Its all about family to me," said Caster. "I just hope they feel welcome. I hope they feel loved. Love from the community, love from the people who put all their energy forth to do this and love from our partners that helped us to renovate the home."

Not only did the business community step up but, so did the familys church community.

New Life Fellowship Bishop Paul Riley says the church community rallied around the family in their time of need.

"For something like this to happen, this is nothing but the perfect example of what love of a community and people is," said Riley.

One more surprise

The surprises did not end with the tour of all the new features of the redone house.

Caster gathered the blended family at the dinner table for a final surprise revealing a cheque for $100,000 from the Alan Quesnel Family Foundation.

"This is not at all what I was expecting," said Terrence. "Im just speechless."

Some of the Allen children held their head in their hands in disbelief while Chantell wiped tears from her eyes.

"Were blessed. We both have jobs. We dont have $100,000 I dont think weve ever even seen $100,000," said Chantell. "But, to know that you can just send your children to college, to university, to not let them want."

Chantell says the couple are still working through the adoption process but, are humbled and elated to be spending Christmas together under the same roof.

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'This is like my dream home': Renovated home donated to Windsor family brought together by tragedy - CTV News Windsor

A modern haven house with a big personality awaits you and your loved ones this holiday. This sublime home is complete with extensive updates and amenities suited for all of your holiday entertaining needs including a Henrybuilt kitchen with an additional cleverly appointed lower level kitchen, a secret floating bar, and fantastic indoor-outdoor flow with a heated covered patio and a killer roof-top deck and big walls for the art collector. Reflect upon the year with your loved ones in the intimate and private garden, the crowning gem of the home, with multiple seating areas, lovely paintings, LED lighting and steel-framed custom water feature-completely gated and secure. A new weight bearing roof awaits the arrival of Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. Additional updates include a pneumatic elevator, powder room, floating stairs, 2-car tandem garage with electric charger, solar panels, interior vacuum with hide-a-hose feature, custom exterior railings, and smart-home alarm system!

Unwrap all of the magic this home has to offer at the website here >>

Love this home? Vote for it to help make it the Geek Home of the Month, and check out other featured Geek Homes of the Day here.

Contact Laura Halliday at Laura.Halliday@rsir.com or +1 206.399.5842 for more information about this home.

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Unwrap the Magic | Haven House in Seattle - GeekWire

Randall JasonArmstrong, (better known as "Randy") age 60, of Holladay, Tennessee, died in a tragic car accident on Friday, December 18th, 2020.

Randy was a skilled guitarist and songwriter, who made a big name for himself in the Central California music scene before moving to Tennessee in 1993. Randy left his mark on his hometown, and much of Middle Tennessee as a master carpenter and general contractor, building custom homes. He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, camping, and fishing with his grandson, Jude.

He is preceded in death by his father, Jerry Riley Armstrong. He is survived by his mother, Jemma Armstrong; daughter, Tara Armstrong (Sean Gurdon); grandson, Jude Gurdon; sister, Alicia Armstrong (Corey) Curtis; brother, Donald Armstrong; nephew, Riley Lashlee and niece, Bergan Lashlee.

Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at Bond Memorial Chapel with Les Stallings officiating. For those who plan to attend, please wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Visitation will be one hour prior to service time Wednesday at Bond Memorial Chapel, N. Mt. Juliet Road and Weston Drive, Mt. Juliet, TN. (615) 773-2663. http://www.bondmemorial.com

Original post:
Randall Jason Armstrong | Obituaries | wilsonpost.com - Wilson Post

The concept for a whole tiny townhouse complex made of these small homes was dreamt up by a Vancouver home builder

A Vancouver home builder working to provide a solution to homelessness in the city got tired of waiting around for laws to accommodate the project and built a prototype.

Bryn Davidson is the co-owner of Lanefab Design/Build, a company that builds custom homes and infill mini-homes or laneway houses. A few years ago Davidson heard about the Partners on Dwelling (POD) program based in Portland, Oregon which is now the Kenton Womens Village. The POD program facilitated the building of small sleeping pods that could be grouped closely together, it was this idea that got Davidson thinking his company could do something similar.

His vision was a house with a footprint of less than 10 square meters and less than 4.5 meters tall, dimensions small enough their construction would not require a building permit. These tiny homes could then be butted up against each other and be kept on empty lots throughout the city. The smallest version of these homes would be just for sleeping in but Davidsons design allows for the addition of kitchen and bathroom modules.

In an interview with Vancouver Is Awesome, Davidson said although he had been working on the project for a few years, things really started to heat up in September when residents near Strathcona Park protested what they viewed as government inaction on the homeless population staying in the park.

"That's when I really just started working on it, doing more drawings and started putting out drawings for concepts of tiny house villages on the sites of these community gardens, Davidson said. People are talking about all these different things but there wasn't a whole lot that was actually happening.

Davidson shared his design process extensively on his Twitter account. Renderings of the homes placed on the front lawn of Vancouver City Hall eventually garnered the attention of city counsellors Jean Swanson and Pete Fry, who pushed for the tiny home concept to be considered as an option for emergency housing.

In October he took his renderings to city council but the results of this attention were somewhat lacklustre for Davidson. When his idea came back to council after being studied for the projects feasibility, staff ranked down the idea. Davidson says this was in part to building code and zoning hurdles the project would have to go through.

Aside from the Strathcona Park protests, 2020 highlighted the need for additional sheltering for Vancouvers homeless population in a big way.

"The COVID situation exacerbated everything because the shelter capacities were reduced, Davidson said. We saw the Balmoral and other buildings were basically closed and emptied so we had this kind of perfect storm of things that were pushing people onto the street."

Davidson added it is not just a Downtown Eastside problem, that just happens to be where it is most visible but the pandemic has exacerbated these already dangerous issues.

On Nov. 5, Davidson started construction on the first prototype of a tiny home in a parking lot on Annacis Island. On Dec. 10, Davidson started a GoFundMe campaign to help finance the project. Thirteen days later the campaign has reached $2,740 raised of its $8,000 goal.

Ten days after creating the GoFundMe campaign, Davidson along with his girlfriend and son spent the night in the home.

Without any heat hooked up it was still warmer than the almost freezing temps outside, Davidson wrote of the experience on Twitter. We didnt need to zip up the sleeping bags

Even with the prototype nearing completion, Davidsons mission is far from over. The next steps include forming a partnership with a registered charity and getting the home in front of city officials so they can see a real-life example of what he proposed at council months earlier.

Davidson plans to accomplish this with the help of the Overdose Prevention Society.

When the prototype is completed, the tiny home will be moved to the OPS location on 58 and 62 East Hastings where it will serve as a support building for an Indigenous artist in residence at the society.

Sarah Blyth, a founding member of the OPS, says she is more than willing to showcase the tiny home, saying she is in support of showcasing all sorts of housing solutions.

"If you didn't have a place to sleep and you had to sleep in terribly cold and rough conditions, any human being needs a place to sleep that is warm and comfortable, Blyth said. When you don't have that life can be pretty difficult."

Blyth also hopes the tiny house will draw the attention of city officials and bureaucrats so they can get their eyes on it and have a real conversation about the possibilities.

Blyth added that she has asked unhoused people in the DTES about what they think of the tiny homes idea and the response has been purely positive.

The current version of one tiny house Bryn Davidson says comes with a $20,000 price tag. A number that could be significantly reduced by partnerships with charities and assistance from the City of Vancouver.

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Tiny townhouse project potential housing solution for Vancouver's DTES - Vancouver Is Awesome