Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

A few weeks back, I presented a three-part series in which I performed a detailed analysis of the Big Ten schedule. In Part One, I looked at the Big Ten conference slate and did some math related to the strength of each teams schedule. The results suggested that MSU was given a schedule of average difficultly, while potential conference favorite Wisconsin (according to the Kenpom preseason projections) was given a remarkably easy schedule.

In Parts Two and Three, I made additional calculations based on Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the odds for each Big Ten team to win both the regular season title and the Big Ten Tournament Title. In both cases, Wisconsin also had the best preseason odds.

In the days that followed, the idea that the schedule was biased in favor of the Badgers weighed on my mind. I wondered if it would be possible to construct a schedule that was more fair. It soon became clear to me that I could use the same tools that I used to analyze the strength of each teams Big Ten schedule to address this issue. Once I saw the entrance to the rabbit hole, I had to try to find the bottom.

The first step was to craft an algorithm that would generate a random Big Ten conference schedule based on its current form. The schedules have each team playing a total of 20 games. Seven of the opponents are played twice (once at home and once away). The remaining six opponents are either played only at hone or only on the road. With a bit of work, I was able to write some simple code that allowed me to generate random schedules for the entire conference fairly quickly.

Once I accomplished this, I needed to define a way to quantify the fairness of a given, random set of schedules. In Part One of the series referenced above, I explained my methodology for calculating strength of schedule. The basic principle is to calculate the expected number of wins that an average Power Five teams (as good as, for example, Indiana) would earn with any given schedule. It is trivial to make this calculation for all 14 Big Ten schedules by using Kenpom efficiency data to estimate win probabilities for any set of Big Ten games.

I also performed a corrected version of this calculation by artificially adjusting the strength of one average Big Ten team (Indiana) to instead be equal to that of the team whose schedule is being analyzed. This corrects for a potential bias in the numbers due to the fact that weak teams and strong teams dont play themselves.

In order to quantify the fairness of the entire Big Ten schedule, I calculated both the range and standard deviations of my calculated strengths of schedule (both regular and corrected) for all 14 individual schedules. In other words, I looked at the quantitative difference between the toughest and easiest schedules as well as the overall variance for all 14 schedules.

I then scanned the list of randomly generated schedules, searching for the one with the smallest standard deviation of corrected schedule strengths. I generated over 40,000 potential schedules and found the one with the smallest variance. This is perhaps the one of the most optimized schedule that can be created, based on the projected preseason strength of each team in 2020.

To refresh our memories, Table 1 below summarizes the actual 2020 Big Ten conference schedule. Relative to each row, the green cells represent the single-play home games while the orange cells are single-play road games. For example, MSU plays Wisconsin only once at home this year and only plays Maryland on the road.

Without doing any math at all, it is easy to see why Wisconsin has such a schedule advantage. The Badgers are the only Big Ten team with two scheduled games against the four projected weakest teams in the conference (Maryland, Penn State, Northwestern, and Nebraska). Furthermore, the Badgers draw Kenpoms No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams (Ohio State and Michigan State) only once.

First, I was curious how the actual schedule compares to a set of randomly generated schedules, based on the fairness metrics described above. Figure 1 below makes this comparison.

As the histograms above shows, not all schedules are created equally. Just based on range alone (the difference between the hardest and easiest schedule) some full conference schedules can differ by over a game and a half in expected wins. However, it is possible to find schedules where the team with the easiest schedule has less than a half of a win advantage over the team with the most difficult schedule.

If the raw, uncorrected strength of schedule values are considered (the blue bars), the real 2020 schedule is quite a bit less fair than the an average, random schedule based on both range and variance. If the corrected values are used (the orange bars), the 2020 schedule is average.

However, it is clearly possible to do better. If I select the individual schedule that showed the lowest observed corrected strength of schedule variance (located all the way to the left in the histogram in the right panel of Figure 1) that schedule looks like this:

While it is always difficult to compare one wall of numbers to another, the schedule shown in Table 2 looks a lot more fair on its face compared to the real schedule. First of all, there is much better balance at the bottom of the table. The top eight Big Ten teams all play the collective bottom four conference teams a total of six times. No team plays all four of these teams twice (as Wisconsin does in the actual schedule) and only two teams (Rutgers and Minnesota) play this collection of teams a total of seven times.

A similar balance is also found at the top of the table. Every team which the exception of Illinois, Michigan, and Purdue, have exactly two single-play matchups among the top four projected Big Ten teams (Wisconsin, MSU, Ohio State, and Iowa). That all said, this schedule still seems challenging for Nebraska, which draws four single-play games amongst the bottom four Big Ten teams not named Nebraska.

A more quantitative comparison of the actual and optimized Big Ten schedules is shown below in Figure 2. In this case, the individual team schedules are ordered from easiest (left) to hardest (right) to make the comparison easier to see. Also, the left panel shows the raw strength and schedule calculation, while the right panel gives the corrected values which are what were used in the optimization.

The data in both panels shows a clear difference in the two full conference schedules. For the raw strength of schedule calculation (left panel) the difference between the easiest schedule and ninth easiest schedule is over half a win in the actual schedule, but less than a quarter of a win in the optimized schedule.

In both cases, there is a drop off in expected win for two most difficult schedules. In both the actual and optimized scenarios, these schedules belong to Northwestern and Nebraska, the two teams that project to be the weakest in the Big Ten this year. This is no coincidence, as once again those two teams suffer from not getting to play themselves.

Fortunately, the corrected strength of schedule appears to handle for this problem. As the right panel shows, the full range of expended wins for an average power five team (i.e. strength of schedule) only differs by slightly over 0.3 wins which seems to be about as fair of a schedule that can be created. In the actual schedule, this range is almost 0.8 wins.

One could make the argument that the it would be better to optimize the schedule based on the raw strength of schedule values as opposed to the corrected values. After all, the left panel still suggests that Northwestern and Nebraska draw the short straw. On some level that is true.

However, a schedule optimized based on the raw strength of schedule values would effectively be creating a schedule that is easier for the weaker teams and harder for the stronger teams. While this seems like a nice gesture, what happens if Nebraska is actually much better than expected? In this scenario, the Huskers would suddenly have an advantage, simply because they were under-valued in the preseason. For this reason, I believe that the corrected values are the best way to find the most fair Big Ten schedule.

That said, there are a few aspects of the schedule that are still perhaps not ideal. For example, Michigan State and Michigan only play each other once. The same is true of Purdue and Indiana. In reality, it would be better if these types of rivalry games would be protected. There may be other constraints on scheduling of which I am not aware.

In any event, it would be simple to modify my algorithm to exclude any random schedule that does not meet these criteria. I am confident that this method can and perhaps should be used to create a better Big Ten schedule. If anyone in the MSU athletic department or the Big Ten office is reading this and would like my assistance, send me a direct message. (I am sort of kidding... but not really).

The strength of schedule calculations discussed above provide a pathway to create a schedule that is mathematically more fair. The next logical question is if the impact of a more level playing field actually matters. I touched on this issue briefly in the original series, but I would like to revisit the topic now that we have a more balanced schedule to compare to the original one.

For this study, I once again ran a series of Monte Carlo simulations on the full Big Ten season using both the actual Big Ten schedule and the optimized schedule shown in Table 2 above. This simulation outputs the odds for each Big Ten team to win the regular season Big Ten title (outright or shared). For here out in order to keep things simple, I will focus only on the results of the simulation for Wisconsin (the Kenpom presumed favorite) and Michigan State.

In addition to the baselines simulation using preseason Kenpom efficiency margin values to assign each team a certain strength, I ran three additional simulations in order to try to separate the effect of the schedule from the effect of each teams strength. In one simulation, I artificially swapped the strength of MSU and Wisconsin. In effect, this simulates the effect of Wisconsin playing MSUs schedule while MSU plays Wisconsins schedule.

In the other two simulations, MSU and Wisconsin are assumed to be equal in strength, either both as good as Wisconsins preseason projection or both as good as MSUs preseason projection. This set of simulations was performed using both the actual schedule as well as the optimized schedule. The results are shown below in Figure 3.

This figure contains a ton of information. The best way to extract information is to make various comparisons between the different scenarios. If we start with the real schedule (left panel) we can see that in the baseline simulation (using the real Kenpom efficiency margin preseason data) Wisconsin has almost exactly a 20-percentage point advantage over Michigan State in the race for the Big Ten title. The is the same data that I presented in Part Two of my series.

If the two teams had schedules with equal difficulty, swapping the schedules should also swap the championship percentages. In the case of the optimized schedule, this is true within one percentage point. But in the actual schedule, there is a significant gap.

In the baseline case Wisconsins championship odds (38.5 percent) are notably higher than MSUs odds if their strengths are swapped (31.9 percent). In effect, this is equivalent to Wisconsin playing MSUs schedule, and it implies that Wisconsins schedule is worth about six and a half percentage points. A similar analysis of MSUs baseline odds (18.4 percent) to the odds for Wisconsin if they were equally as good as MSU (23.9 percent, the second red bar) gives a five and and half percentage point difference.

A similar story is told by the third and forth sets of bars. In these cases, MSU and Wisconsin have equal Kenpom efficiency margins, but in both cases, the Badgers odds are better (by seven percentage points and five and a half percentage points). It should also be noted that in the right panel of Figure 3 (the optimized schedule) if MSU and Wisconsin have the same efficiency margin, they also have almost identical odds.

Looking at the data from another point of view provides insight into how much of an advantage Wisconsin has simply because of the higher preseason efficiency margin. In other words, how much does an advantage in actual (or simulated) team strength impact the title odds?

This value can be estimated by comparing the first two red bars to each other or the first two green bars to each other in either panel. This is simply the difference in odds that each team would have with the same schedule and either their MSU or Wisconsins strength. The difference varies between 13.5 and 14.5 percentage points.

All of this data points to one basic fact: Wisconsins calculated 20-percentage point preseason advantage in the regular season odds is due to a one-third contribution of a schedule advantage (about 6.5 percentage points) and a two-thirds contribution (about 13.5 percentage points) from Wisconsins estimated efficiency margin advantage.

In addition, I feel that Figure 3 makes a fair case that if an ideal Big Ten schedule is constructed, this schedule advantage shrinks to zero. That said, I should also point out that in all four comparisons in the right panel of Figure 3, MSU actually has about a one-percentage point advantage over the Badgers, which appears to arise due to a combination of MSUs very slightly easier schedule in the ideal scenario, combined with the slightly larger home court advantage that Kempon assigns to the Breslin Center relative to the Kohl Center.

While the results of the analysis above are interesting (at least to people like me...and I assume anyone still reading this) there are still a few questions that remain. This entire analysis hinges on the idea that the preseason efficiency margin data is correct. The season is now several games in and already some teams have moved up or down. I showed above that Wisconsins preseason efficiency margin advantage (+1.79 compared to MSU) is worth about 13.5-percentage points. But, what happens when that value changes? How sensitive are the title odds to these numbers?

In order to clarify this, I ran one additional simple set of simulations. In this case, I fixed the efficiencies margins for all Big Ten teams and varied the efficiency margin of Wisconsin from a value of 18.00 (roughly the quality of a bubble team, ranked around No. 30 in Kenpom) all the way to to a value of 30.00 (roughly the quality of the No. 1 ranked team in Kenpom in any given year).

I then calculated both the expected win totals and regular season title odds for Wisconsin using the actual schedule. Those results are shown below in Figure 4. The same data is also shown for MSU (using their fixed, preseason efficiency margin as a reference).

Note that the actual preseason values for each team are shown with the large, solid data point. The data in Figure 4 looks about like one would expect it to look. A bubble team (with an efficiency margin of 18) would be expected to win just over 10 games in conference play and have less than a 10 percent chance to win the Big Ten regular season, while a team ranked No. 1 in Kenpom (with an efficiency margin of 30) would be expected to win close to 16 games and would have over an 80 percent chance to win the Big Ten.

The correlations are not truly linear (especially for the title odds) but I included the linear fit equations in each plot for reference. In both cases, the slopes provide a good rule of thumb for the sensitivity of expected wins and title odds. Specifically, for every 1.00 improvement in efficiency margin, a teams expected win total will increase by about 0.44 wins and the title odds will improve by about 6.7 percent for a team in a conference like the Big Ten in 2020.

Note that the second number is consistent with Wisconsins roughly 13-percentage point schedule-independent advantage mentioned above, considering their almost 2.00 lead in efficiency margin over the second best Big Ten team. Also note that Wisconsins schedule advantage is worth almost exactly 1.00 in efficiency margin.

The artificial change in Wisconsins strength makes a relatively small impact on MSUs expected wins and even odds. MSU only faces Wisconsin once, so it makes sense that MSUs expected win total is almost unaffected. As for the title odds, MSUs odds decrease gradually as the strength of the Badgers increases. Even in the cases where Wisconsin is really good, MSUs odds only drop by eight to ten percentage points. Basically, MSU still mows their own grass, more or less.

Finally, this analysis begs the question of the general correlation between expected wins and regular season title odds. That correlation is shown below and was derived for the original baseline simulation of all 14 Big Ten teams combined with the Wisconsin sensitivity analysis discussed above.

Again, this plot makes a lot of sense. If a teams expected win total is around 10 wins or less, the odds to win the Big Ten are very low (five percent or less). Those odds increase fairly linearly to close to 90 percent as the expected win total approaches 16. Recent history suggests that the regular season Big Ten champs usually win roughly 16 games in a 20-game schedule. Furthermore, the slope of the line suggests that every whole win improvement is worth about 17 percentage points in championship odds.

At this point, I think that it is safe to say that I have beaten the preseason Kenpom data to a bloody pulp. Fortunately, the Big Ten season is right around the corner, and the analytical tools at my disposal will allow for a real time tracking of expected wins, regular season championship odds, and Big Ten tournament seeding and odds.

The first Big Ten game tips off on Sunday, Dec. 13, and I plan to give a brief update on the numbers which reflect the changes that have occurred since the preseason data was released. I will then provide updates following most MSU games. That is all for now. Until next time, enjoy, and Go Green

Original post:
Big Ten Basketball Mathematical Analysis, Addendum: The Ideal Schedule - The Only Colors

The Queer Eye star shared easy tips with NowThis on how you can make working from home bearable and modify traditions this year to safely enjoy the holiday season. By Ashleigh Carter

Published on 12/10/2020 at 10:38 AM

"Queer Eye" star Bobby Berk shares his ideas for keeping a sense of normalcy this year with simple and affordable working from home tips. | PayPal

"Queer Eye" star Bobby Berk shares his ideas for keeping a sense of normalcy this year with simple and affordable working from home tips. | PayPal

Superstar interior designer Bobby Berk knows that working from home has been tough for a lot of people. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many to adapt to remote working or learning, which has led to feelings of stress and being overworked.

Berk told NowThis that some simple alterations to your home or work area can make a difference in keeping you focused during your work or school day.

When I'm surrounded by chaos, my mind is chaotic too, Berk said in an interview.

Berk is best known for his impressive (and quick) home makeovers on the hit Netflix show Queer Eye. As part of the Fab Five, Berk transforms the homes of the heroes, turning them into spaces that are both functional and customized to the persons needs.

The COVID-19 pandemic completely upended everyones daily lives, and Berk was no exception; the Fab Five had to pause filming earlier this year for the upcoming sixth season set in Austin, TX.

I think two months into [the pandemic] was the longest I've been home for 10 years, with my design firm before and then Queer Eye, Berk said. So it's been kind of nice. I've enjoyed it.

Because we're all working from home, we're all on a budget right now, Berk continued. So I've come up with some really cute and easy ways to make your work from home spaces or your school from home spaces easier and doing it without breaking the bank.

As Berk got used to a new sense of normalcy, so did the rest of the world. He came up with his own Berking From Home strategies to help people focus while staying in one place.

So one of my main, main recommendations, and this was not just for work from home, but back in the day when I traveled constantly, was noise-cancelling headphones. Especially right now, when working from home, if you have roommates, if you have kids, dogs, or just daydream a lot, noise-cancelling headphones will really help you stay focused and tune the rest of the world out.

Another thing that always frustrated me when I was working from home at first is all the things I needed to have charged, Berk said. I would have them in random plugs, and cords would knock my coffee over, Id trip on them. So I made sure I went out and got one of those big power strips. So that way all my cords are in one place. They're not coming from all different directions. You have less chaos around you, less chaos in your mind.

[Make] sure that you've got a good chair. A lot of people are like, 'Oh, I should get an office-y chair If I'm working from home.' No, get something that looks good because you're going to have to look at that chair even when you're not working. So make sure you get a chair that's comfortable and it looks good, but supports your back as well.

I recommend getting like a nice big tray, like a big wood or plastic or metal tray that when that tray is out, sitting on the bed or sitting on the coffee table or the sofa, and your laptops on it, your coffee's on it, your lights on it: it's work time, Berk continued. But when you put that tray away, work is done. Do not look at your phone for work, do not open up that laptop, do not answer emails. So [tray] out, work time, tray not out, not work time, because it's really important to not only visually separate that space, but also to make sure that, you know, some people that have home offices, you can shut the door. But for those of us who don't, you just put that tray away, and no more work.

I do always recommend making your bed, Berk said. You need to start out with a task to make yourself feel accomplished especially if your bed is in the space that you're working in as well. It has such a huge effect on your mental health and wellness to make that bed and make sure that you are mentally fit and ready to start working.

With the holidays approaching, many people are staying at home instead of traveling to see loved ones. As COVID-19 cases continue to surge to record-breaking numbers, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory ahead of Thanksgiving urging people against traveling or hosting large gatherings.

The CDCsuggested taking similar precautions for the upcoming holidays as well and recommends hosting virtual events instead. And while it might be strange for most people to spend the holidays apart from loved ones, Berk suggested people keep up those holiday traditions from when you were a kid on their own.

When we were little, we used to always bake cookies, and when friends and family would come over, we'd send them home with a plate of cookies, Berk said. Well, obviously we can't have all those people over this year, so I went out and I bought a big stand mixer, so that way I can make cookies in big batches and I'm going to ship all the cookies.

Berk continued: The holidays always make us feel warm even though, you know, the holidays are going to look a little different this year. It doesn't mean they still can't be merry.

Berk said keeping a sense of normalcy is especially important this year.

We as species like normalcy, we like pattern, he continued. And so making sure that you're doing some of the same things that you would normally do, even if they're a little different, is going to keep us happy and safe this year.

While everyone continues to grapple with seemingly endless months of living through a pandemic, Berk encouraged people to maintain hope and persevere something hes been known for on Queer Eye.

That's always kind of the attitude I've had to have is things will get better, Berk said. We'll get through this. It'll be fine Make sure that you're taking care of yourselves, get those work from home things, get the things that you need for holidays.

Originally posted here:
Bobby Berk Knows Working From Home Is Hard. Hes Got Some Advice - NowThis

MAUREEN MCCORMICK OF "THE BRADY BUNCH" AND INTERIOR DESIGNER DAN VICKERY TO STAR IN NEW HOME RENOVATION SERIES "FROZEN IN TIME"

- Series Streaming on discovery+ Beginning Monday, Jan. 4 -

(New York, N.Y.) - Fans nostalgic for decades past can travel back in time with the new home renovation series Frozen in Time, streaming on discovery+, Discovery Inc.'s new subscription streaming service, beginning Monday, Jan. 4. Starring Maureen McCormick of The Brady Bunch fame, a collector and nostalgia enthusiast, along with interior designer Dan Vickery, the series will follow the duo as they overhaul Southern California homes that are stuck in a design time warp. Dan will bring the structures up-to-date, while Maureen will source beautiful decade-specific pieces that give the tired homes a refreshed look. Each stunning design will preserve the best of the past with a wink to the original era, providing families with the stylish, functional spaces they need.

"It's fun to reminisce about the past," said Maureen. "The 50s were cool, the 60s were hip and the 70s were groovy. But some homes are just stuck there, and, when you step inside, you feel like you're in a time warp."

"We're renovating houses that have been trapped in the past," said Dan. "And we're going to take them from frozen in time to beautifully timeless."

During the series, Dan and Maureen will take on a 1961 property in Laguna Beach that acts as a time capsule with its period furnishings, decades old appliances and original shag carpet. Inspired by the home's hilltop location, the duo will rearrange the main floor's layout to capitalize on the gorgeous ocean views. Modern elements with vintage flair, including retro-look appliances, a funky tile backsplash and iconic period light fixtures, round out the breathtaking design. Throughout the season, Maureen and Dan will tackle pastel tiled bathrooms, wood paneled walls and laminate countertops to help families bring their homes into this century.

Fans are invited to connect with the series across the discovery+ digital platforms at discoveryplus.com and via @discoveryplus and #FrozeninTime on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans also can connect with Dan and Maureen on Instagram at @dan_vickery and @momccormick7.

About discovery+

discovery+ is the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service. The new service will launch with a landmark partnership with Verizon that gives their customers with select plans 12 months of discovery+ on Verizon. At launch in the U.S., discovery+ will have the largest-ever content offering of any new streaming service, featuring a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular, passion verticals in which Discovery brands have a leadership position, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; as well as science, tech and the environment, and a slate of high-quality documentaries. discovery+ will offer more than 55,000 episodes all in one place, with over 2,500 current and classic shows from Discovery's iconic portfolio of networks, including HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, OWN, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. For more about discovery+, click here.

Continued here:
Breaking News - Maureen McCormick of "The Brady Bunch" and Interior Designer Dan Vickery to Star in New Home Renovation Series "Frozen...

A unique housing project launched early this year by leading Australian owned property investment company, DPN is taking the concept of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in Australia to new heights of transformation.

Aptly named DPN Casa Capace (Casa means home and Capace, to be able in Italian), the project represents a social impact business incubated by DPN to build architecturally designed, automated and resident-centric homes for people with disabilities across Australia. Completely integrated with home automation systems, these houses would provide residents control and independence in their daily lives.

When Australias National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) sought to provide SDA housing for 28,000 differently-abled Australians, the government invited the commercial property sector to conceive SDA-standard designs that would raise the quality of the dwellings.

DPN, described by managing director Sam Khalil as being fanatical about design excellence, was up for the challenge.

We wanted to create a designer home that anybody would walk into and say, I would love to have this as my home, and not be able to tell that its been built as a disabled-care home in any way, says Khalil.

The pilot homes that opened early this year drew a tremendous response from prospective residents and NDIS care providers. Institutional investors have joined with the original social impact investors to help DPN realise the next stage of the Casa Capace vision.

Speaking about his partners who took the leap to join the project, Khalil said, We collaborated on our strengths to deliver something thats going to benefit Australians and set the benchmark globally. Within three months, we had $200 million of EOIs, weve already bought more land and theres a pipeline of housing with a plan to build 1500 homes in the next five years, most in NSW but with Queensland and Victoria soon, too.

Aware that DPNs choice of partners would be critical for the success of Casa Capace, Khalil reached out to building technologies distributor and reputed provider of OEM-agnostic solutions, Ivory Egg to meet their requirements for an advanced home automation solution that was secure, robust and intuitive to operate.

According to Simon Harvey, national sales manager for Ivory Egg, DPN Casa Capace wanted automation that would effect change in peoples lives.

We knew we needed a solid partner with a wealth of products that could do what DPN Casa Capace required, and is big enough to do it at a roll-out scale. We have a great relationship with ABB, so we looked no further than them they have the expertise and the product, Harvey said.

ABBs i-bus KNX was chosen for Casa Capaces automation vision.

In the Casa Capace homes, KNX controls the electrical doors, the lighting, blinds, TVs and the HVAC, and even the height of the benches, says Christian Schiemann, market development manager for ABB Building Automation Australia & New Zealand.

It can also implement scenes, such as raising the blinds and switching on the lights in the morning, or turning on the TV and dimming the lights, he added.

The open-protocol ABB i-bus KNX also met the protocol compliance requirements of both Standard Australias Technical Specification for Building Automation (SA/SNZ TS ISO/IEC14543.1.1:2018) and the International Standards for Building Automation (ISO/IEC145).

Commenting on the first two SDA-standard homes that opened in Sydneys Oran Park in February this year, Harvey said, Casa Capace now has a future-proof design and system that can accommodate ongoing development of technologies and products. Its designed to enhance the longevity of the homes. ABB is synonymous with KNX, and this open-protocol standard is part of the allure for DPN theyre not locked into any one technology.

Watch ABBs technology at work in the Casa Capace home.

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Designer smart homes transforming lives of the differently-abled - Architecture and Design

The Krewe of Red Beans have announced their plans to launch the Hire a Mardi Gras Artist initiative. The project is endorsed by Krewe du Vieux and the Krewe of Chewbacchus as well as Rouses Markets, NOLA Craft Culture, and Merchant House.

The goal is to create jobs, especially for the recently laid-off float builders and artisans. Because the City of New Orleans has cancelled all parades, these artists, carpenters and other artisans find themselves out of work or under-employed.

The idea came from former Krewe of Red Beans member, artist Caroline Thomas, who works as a float builder. Caroline understands the ins and outs of the float-building process and the people who make Mardi Gras what it is. Mardi Gras float artists have spent years tirelessly working behind the scenes to bring Carnival to the streets. Now its time to return the favor and help keep these workers employed during a very different type of Mardi Gras. And hopefully bring some joy and magic to the public while we are at it,says Caroline.

There has been recent local media attention given to the concept of house floats a private home being transformed to look like a float. This idea, now organized by neighborhoods with themes, complements the Krewe of Red Beans project. This house float idea inspired Caroline to think of ways jobs could be created and donations raised. The Krewe of Red Beans will ask the community to crowd-fund the creation of amazing, professionally made constructions that will transform a house to delight the public.

Our goal of raising $10,000 per house will create jobs and pay artisans. For each house, we estimate eight jobs will be created for artisans, carpenters, installation teams and project managers, says Krewe of Red Beans founder Devin DeWulf.

The Krewe ofRedBeans is managing the project, collecting donations, and making payment to artists they hire. Krewe founder, Devin De Wulf will lead this effort.

Caroline Thomaswill serve as the Artistic Director for the House Float Project, which was her idea. She has over ten years experience working on all things Mardi Gras, including making headdresses and as a painter and designer for Royal Artists. She currently designs the floats for the Rex and Proteus parades, among the oldest in the city. She is a proud member of Krewe du Vieux, in the sub-krewe of C.R.U.D.E.

Dana Beuhler, who will serve as the Project Manager for the House Float Project, holds a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art. Since returning home to Louisiana, she has worked as a painter, sculptor and multi-media artist in the float building industry as well as in the film industry. Her portfolio includes everything from detailed murals to large-scale sculptures for Mardi Gras parades and films. In 2015 she began creating custom-made Carnival flowers and costume designs from her home studio, which eventually became Mardi Gras Customs, LLC.

Houses and businesses will be chosen at random from donors. Companies and individuals can also commission a house. The goal is 40 Professional Mardi Gras Homes to be created in New Orleans. To commission a home or business, visit http://www.hireamardigrasartist.com

Originally posted here:
Krewe of Red Beans Announces Its Hire a Mardi Gras Artist Initiative - OffBeat Magazine

Borelli Construction, a leading local custom homebuilder celebrating more than 40 years in Naples, has broken ground on its newest luxury model in The Moorings waterfront community.

Located at 510 Starboard Drive, this soft contemporary southern coastal style residence will feature a total of four bedrooms, five and one-half baths, and a study, offering 4,285 square feet of air-conditioned living space and 6,003 total square feet all conveniently on one floor. Construction began in October and completion and availability are anticipated by August 2021.

Designed by Unique Hite Designs, LLC, this luxury home will boast a great room floor plan with a large open area in the center that will serve as the ideal setting for entertaining friends and family. The spacious great room will be conveniently located just steps from the main entry foyer and will include a built-in wet bar with one oversized and suitably placed wine chiller.

The great room will flow seamlessly into the kitchen, which will feature an oversized island bar, elegant quartzite countertops, upgraded European-style cabinets, and top of the line Sub Zero and Wolf appliances. Just off the kitchen will be a dining room with a temperature controlled wine wall, plus a large walk-in pantry with ample shelving for food items and other storage.

The owners suite will emphasize enhanced privacy as it will be tucked away on one side toward the rear of the home, providing direct access to a private spa area. Design features of the owners suite will include vaulted ceilings and oversized dual walk-in closets with custom storage systems.

The owners bath will showcase a large freestanding tub, a spacious walk-in shower, and separate sinks with European-style cabinets, marble countertops and designer bath fixtures throughout.

The remaining bedrooms and bathrooms will be interspersed throughout the home. One of the bedrooms will be a VIP Suite and will have its own dedicated bathroom and private outdoor access, making it perfect for hosting in-laws or other extended overnight guests. The other bedrooms also will have their own bathrooms in a split floor plan around the great room.

The interior design of this new home will exhibit the cool transitional style for which Borelli has become well-regarded. All floors in the main areas and bedrooms will be completed with Legno Bastone wide plank French white oak flooring and extra-large crown moldings will be provided in every room.

An expansive covered lanai will be easily accessible from the great room via floor-to-ceiling glass sliders and be protected by retractable screens and storm shutters. The outdoor area will feature a fully equipped outdoor kitchen with a hooded gas grill, dining area and fireplace. There also will be a large custom swimming pool and spa with an adjacent deck area for seating around a firepit. The homes placement on a southern exposure lot provides the best natural light inside and out.

The entire home will be fully equipped with Creston automation technology that will let owners control entire environments with the push of a button, including audio/visual, lighting, shading, AC and security. An extensive video camera system also will be on the exterior for optimum security.

In addition, the property will feature lush tropical landscaping and landscape lighting, creating an oasis of privacy. Other exterior design features of this new home will include a concrete tile roof, 12-foot mahogany front doors, Andersen impact glass windows and doors, designer light fixtures, shellstone paved walkways; and grey blended brick paver entry walks and circular driveway.

Owners of residential property within the platted Moorings subdivision are eligible for annual membership in The Moorings Property Owners Association, which grants exclusive access to The Moorings Beach Park. This private, members-only beach park located just off Gulf Shore Boulevard provides a large parking area, covered pavilions for picnics and childrens play area.

Based in Naples, Borelli Construction has been building custom homes locally for more than four decades. This new home is the latest of several residences being built by Borelli in The Moorings and surrounding neighborhoods of Naples. The model home is currently priced from $4,000,000.

For information on this home or to view the inventory of other homes built to the highest standards of luxury, contact Kendall Borelli at 239-250-2043 or visit http://www.borelliconstructionofnaples.com.

Read the original here:
Borelli Construction breaks ground on luxury model in The Moorings - Florida Weekly

High street retailer Home Bargains is known for, well, exactly that.

For years shoppers have gone to stores with the hopes of finding some bargains for their homes, and more often than not end up leaving with something they hadn't gone in to buy (you know who you are).

And now Home Bargains has come up trumps with shoppers once again, after revealing its new furniture product to hit stores.

Posting on Facebook, the retailer shared details of its 19.99 drinks trolley - which features a gold art deco design and some handy wheels for pushing it around after you've had one too many Babychams.

Sharing a photo on the social media platform, Home Bargains wrote: "COMING SOON. Have everything you need for a night in... right next to you! This Home Collections 2 Tier Drinks Trolley has an Art Deco feel about it and is sure to suit any decor."

The post has already racked up a substantial amount of likes and comments, and the trolley is already a clear favourite with shoppers.

"Very retro, love it," said one person.

Another wrote: "Love it so 70s."

"Im having this," commented a third social media user.

A fourth wrote: "I badly want this."

Similar drinks trolleys cost 100s in other retailers - with Sweetpea and Willow selling a similar design for 1,370.00.

The trolley is not yet available to buy on the Home Bargains website, but the retailer is urging shoppers to keep their eyes peeled.

See more here:
Home Bargains shoppers obsessed with new 19.99 furniture that 'looks designer' - Manchester Evening News

Not all houses for sale on the stunning Gower peninsula are cute coastal cottages or period properties with a past, there are also pockets of contemporary homes hiding amongst the rural landscape.

One road in particular is a popular place to put down roots in Gower if you have a large buying budget. The location appears regularly on lists of Wales' most expensive streets.

Lady Housty Avenue is found on the edge of Newton and includes, at the very end of the cul-de-sac, a small lane that leads to a private enclave of five luxury and individually-designed detached designer homes.

This contemporary family home for sale is private but perfectly placed to enjoy the award-winning Gower beaches, visit the villages of Newton, Langland and Mumbles and even commute to Swansea.

Nestled amongst the countryside, the first aspect of this substantial modern mansion that will take your breath away is the sweeping views of the Gower countryside from the front garden and through front windows.

The panoramic view combines distant roof-tops, hill-tops and tree-tops to enthral you for hours, watching the changing weather and the wildlife world go by.

But turn around on the driveway and a contemporary home is beckoning you to have a nose around inside. It'd be rude not to really.

So step inside and the impressive view is temporarily forgotten.

A luxury millionaire's pad needs an impressive hallway and this central space, opening up to the first floor, certainly delivers.

Allocating a substantial amount of the floorplan to the entrance hall ensures that the first impression for any visitor to the house is of a grand modern home that commands attention.

The central staircase sweeps down to greet you from the galleried landing above and numerous doors leading off the space tempt you to explore further; where to wander first?

To the right and into the main lounge, which is a peaceful and super stylish space to relax by the fire and enjoy the views out of the bay window.

This space feels very much like an adult, quiet zone.

Although it is connected to the adjoining 'family' zone, it is rather more 'broken-plan' than open-plan, as the connecting glass doors can be used to close off the room from the rest of the house and make this space separate.

Through the glass doors and into a vast space that leaves the entrance hall as a distant memory when it comes to first impressions.

Being a modern home the design of this property has fully and utterly embraced the broken-plan connected family space concept.

This flow between family spaces is coupled with the joy of a seamless connection to the garden via a set of huge bi-fold doors and two sets of French doors across the back of the property.

The first space to marvel at is the formal dining room, an inviting room with a wall of glass at the end ensuring that views of the garden are ever-present as one of the invited dinner guests.

Instead of a cavernous and echoing chamber of open-plan space, this cleverly designed home has connected the whole of the rear section of the property through large open archways in partition walls, rather than lose the walls altogether.

This balance of connection and sociable spaces yet retaining an element of privacy and distinct atmosphere in each room is the genius of the 'broken-plan' design.

Through the archway and into the incredible kitchen diner, which showcases an island unit almost as big as some complete kitchen spaces in small flats across the country.

Within this beast of an island unit there hides an integrated dishwasher, Miele wine cooler and double Belfast sink.

The triple lanterns hanging above the island initially grab the attention but there's plenty to enthral you more in this designer kitchen.

Along the back wall the expanse of elegant cream units includes all the integrated appliances you would expect from a home in this price bracket but also an integrated pantry, five ring cooker hob and warming drawer.

This room is clearly the heart of the home, and not just because of its position at the centre of the house.

The diner area of the space is a special spot for a huge family-sized table and chairs should the next owner be bringing a large clan to live in the property.

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Situated under the impressive lantern roof window and connected to the garden via a whole wall of bi-folds doors, it's not hard to imagine family members rushing about in this space, the air filled with noise as well as the smell of cooking.

The kitchen diner then flows into the family lounge, again via a large, open archway.

This comfortable and relaxed room is clearly the television and games room, a social space still connected to the kitchen and the garden but separate enough to house all the chatter family and friends can produce.

The downstairs can also boast a sizable study and home office at the front of the property.

The office overlooks the mesmerising views, so it might be advisable to position the desk away from the window if you want to hit your work deadlines.

Up that grand staircase to the grand galleried landing, and there are two ensuite bedrooms to discover on one side of the property and a substantial master suite on the other.

This master suite occupies a whole wing of the house on this floor, with the sleeping accommodation at the front section, ensuring the stars can lull you to sleep at night and the sunrise over the views can wake you.

The bedroom has a door to the master ensuite positioned in the centre of the space, boasting a spacious and very inviting statement bath in the centre of the room.

At the rear of the master suite is a sizable walk-in wardrobe, perfect for anyone who likes regular retail therapy.

Up to the top floor and this area that spans the whole of the property is potentially a very versatile accommodation space.

Currently this second floor is set up with two ensuite bedrooms at one end of the floor, one with a gorgeous bath in the corner.

There is a sitting area in the middle of the space and a further bedroom and utility room at the other end.

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With all the plumbing available on this level plus the space on offer, it would be easy to allocate this top floor as a virtually separate apartment, perfect for teenagers or intergenerational living.

The interior design throughout the home is elegant and tasteful, calm and neutral with accents of luxurious touches, so there's nothing at all for a new owner to do here unless they want to bring their own personal taste to the property.

Outside the rear garden has ample space for alfresco dining on any spot on the wraparound patio but arguably the spot that is the most special and likely to entice an owner is the front garden.

There's a brick paved mini patio that wraps around the front facade of the home; the perfect place to position a bench or even little bistro garden table and chairs and totally immerse yourself in the beautiful rural world of green-toned waves that expand out in front of you.

This modern mansion in the heart of the Gower countryside is on the market for 1.25m with estate agent Fine & Country Swansea, give them a call on 01792 367301 to find out more.

See original here:
The 1.2m modern mansion with sweeping views of Gower - Wales Online

Therapeutic Associates Inc., a physical, occupational and speech therapy business, received an $8.1 million loan under the federal Paycheck Protection Program, the most of any Kent company.

Novinium Inc., an underground power expert that partners with utility companies, obtained $5.3 million and Holmes Electric, an electrical contractor, received a $5.2 million loan, according to data released last week by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), complying with a federal court order as part of a lawsuit by the Washington Post and other media organizations to get specific information about the loans, part of the federal CARES Act to combat the economic impact of COVID-19.

The SBA released data in July that did not include specific amounts to each business. The loans do not require repayment if borrowers spend most of the funds to cover payroll. The SBA, in most cases, considers a small business as having 500 or fewer employees.

Therapeutic Associates, a physical therapy business whose administrative officers are in Kent, did not report the number of jobs retained. Holmes Electric also didnt list the number of its employees. Novinium reported the loan would help it retain 267 employees.

Following is a list, by amount received, of Kent businesses that received at least $1 million, with the type of business and the number of employees. Several businesses did not list their number of employees. Many other Kent businesses received amount less than $1 million.

Kent PPP recipients $5 million $10 million

THERAPEUTIC ASSOCIATES INC.

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists

No employee number listed

$8,167,100

NOVINIUM INC

All Other Specialty Trade Contractors

267 employees

$5,370,000

HOLMES ELECTRIC COMPANY

Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors

No employee number listed

$5,205,500

$3 million $4 million

KELLEY IMAGING SYSTEMS INC

Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers

200 employees

$4,169,500

ALCO INVESTMENT COMPANY

Other Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers

331 employees

$4,126,100

KEY MECHANICAL CO.

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors

203 employees

$3,812,395

HARBOR FOODSERVICE OF SEATTLE LLC

Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers

208 employees

$3,653,250

T & A SUPPLY COMPANY, INC.

Floor Covering Stores

No employees number listed

$3,505,000

BARGHAUSEN CONSULTING ENGINEERS INC.

Engineering Services

175 employees

$3,315,821

LONG PAINTING COMPANY

Painting and Wall Covering Contractors

68 employees

$3,296,149

POULSBO RV INC

Recreational Vehicle Dealers

235 employees

$3,002,157

$2 million $3 million

PETROCARD, INC.

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals)

162 employees

$2,970,245

PRECISION AEROSPACE PRODUCTS, LLC

Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing

125 employees

$2,564,422

PUGET SOUND PIPE AND SUPPLY COMPANY

Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies (Hydronics) Merchant Wholesalers

No employee number listed

$2,531,230

SHINN MECHANICAL, INC.

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors

No employee number listed

$2,506,100

INSULATION CONTRACTORS, INC.

Drywall and Insulation Contractors

No employee number listed

$2,441,600

SEA-TAC ELECTRIC, INC.

Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors

No employee number listed

$2,422,500

WESTERN INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES INC

Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers

No employee number listed

$2,321,000

THE BOXMAKER, INC.

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing

No employee number listed

$2,311,200

MAC & CO.

Baked Goods Stores

No employee number listed

$02,149,332

TRI-MED AMBULANCE, LLC

Ambulance Services

239 employees

$2,035,009

FAWCETT PAINTING, INC.

Painting and Wall Covering Contractors

111 employees

$2,019,200

CORPORATE MOVING SYSTEMS, INC.

Used Household and Office Goods Moving

No employee number listed

$2,000,000

See the article here:
Kent physical therapy company received $8.1 million from SBA... - Kent Reporter

Wednesday, December 9, 2020 - by Mitch Talley, Whitfield County Director of Communications

The old saying that you cant always judge a book by its cover will definitely apply to the Whitfield County Courthouse after extensive renovations inside the original 60-year-old portion of the structure are finished late next year.

Every wall of the building will be coming out, down to the concrete frame, County Engineer Kent Benson said, and then itll be rebuilt to a different floor plan. Basically itll be a whole new building; were just reusing the frame.

Sandwiched between the special U.S. Senate election in January and the city election in November, with full funding provided by the four-year, special purpose local option sales tax that voters approved in June, Whitfield County plans to start and finish all the work inside that part of the courthouse built in 1961.

That original building is a three-story, 48,000-square-foot concrete framed structure, Mr. Benson said, meaning its got concrete columns and concrete beams set in place with concrete floor decks and a concrete roof deck that all serve as the structural part of the building. None of the interior walls carry any load, he said, so we can totally demolish or remove all of the interior walls without affecting any structural integrity of the building.

When the new portion of the courthouse was added in 2006, the exterior walls of the 1961 portion were left in place, but hidden behind a brick faade to match the new construction.

If you go into that old part of the building and look at the exterior windows, youll see the window sills are very deep, Mr. Benson said. That shows how big the cavity between these two walls is, about three feet. Its uninsulated space so you get condensation in there and with the roof leaks and other moisture that also get into that space, theres never any air change-over so it just promotes mold growth.Usable space will growThe project, which is being designed by Carter Watkins Associates, will include the removal of those original exterior walls, and the floors will then be extended out three feet, actually increasing the amount of usable interior square footage.

That space was previously uninsulated and not part of the HVAC system and will be converted to heated interior space, Mr. Benson said, so youll end up with the current exterior brick wall, new insulation, and new interior wall but no three-foot cavity in there. That will eliminate the mold problem.

The HVAC system, along with all the wiring and plumbing, will be replaced. Its 60 years old and still has the original wiring and plumbing, Mr. Benson said. The AC main unit has been replaced over the years, but that type of system is conducive to mold growth inside the ductwork, especially for a building that has one floor underground.

The new HVAC system which will be more energy efficient and will cost less to operate is a multi-split system with zones that uses smaller equipment and does not have interior supply ductwork. Instead, a square cartridge in the center of the ceiling of each room will supply the heating and cooling, and another separate fresh air duct that doesnt promote the growth of mold will be employed. A drain line for condensation removes water created by the system, and if a line does stop up, it shuts off automatically and sends a notice that service is required so you dont have leaks from a condensate pan overflowing like you would with a conventional system, Mr. Benson said.

Getting ready for those interior renovations to the 1961 building, the county used capital funds of $1.25 million earlier this year to replace its roof and install new, more efficient windows on the original clear story portion that rises above the flat roof.Clearly an improvementIn 2006, when the courthouse was expanded to the north, the architect had suggested using a screen wall around the clear story in an attempt to hide it and better match the look of the new part. Unfortunately, that screen required the use of a steel frame that had to be secured to the roof with dozens of bolts.

Everywhere they put a bolt in, it was a penetration through the roof, Mr. Benson said. They have tried many, many things over the years to try to seal those holes up, but over time, whatever you use to seal it, it eventually gets dry and cracks and water winds up getting into the building. There was a problem with leaks from the beginning, and its gotten worse over time.

Crews finally were able to eliminate that problem for good earlier this year, however, by totally removing the screen, then installing a thicker-than-standard rubber polymer membrane roof system with a 30-year warranty.

The clear story itself, located over the main courtroom, also created problems over the years, Mr. Benson said.

For years, its original uninsulated single-pane windows were a heating and cooling nightmare, depending on the season, and if their non-tempered glass panels had ever been broken, they would have fallen in large sheets into the courtroom, possibly resulting in a very dangerous situation, according to Mr. Benson. The windows also caused a glare in the courtroom below, and blinds installed to try to block the sun had long ago served their useful life, he said.

The new windows are high performance, double-pane, low energy transfer, Mr. Benson said, Meaning you get a lot of heat on the window from the sun beating down on it, but it doesnt transmit that heat to the inside of the room, plus the coating they have on them cuts the glare of the sun without having to have blinds on there.

Mr. Benson expects better temperature control in the courtroom thanks to installation of the new windows as well as rigid insulation panels underneath the new roof membrane, along with the new more efficient HVAC system, when its installed next year.Strictly a judicial courthouseThe renovations will allow the county commissioners to meet their goal of using the courthouse strictly for judicial functions. That means over the next few months, several departments will be relocating.

The Public Defenders Office, for example, will move from the Wells Fargo building to the ground floor of the 1961 portion of the courthouse. The Board of Elections and Registrar recently moved into renovated space formerly occupied by the Vending Area on the middle floor of the new courthouse, with voting machines to be stored next door in space to be renovated in the old part of the building. Thats one reason why work wont be able to start on the renovations until after the Jan. 5 special election is certified, and why work has to be completed before the citys election in November.

The middle floor will also include part of the district attorneys office, specifically the Victim/Witness Assistance Program, as well as additional space undesignated for now but likely to be used eventually for judicial functions.

The top floor will continue to be the main courtroom, which will see new lighting, wiring, and HVAC installed but will retain its current furnishings. Behind that, youve got judges offices and mediation rooms and things like that, Mr. Benson said, and all of that will be renovated. The jury assembly room will get a renovation, but it will end up looking exactly like it does theyre happy with how the room is now. It just needs the same as the others new electrical, new HVAC and all, but we wont remodel that room.

As a result of the renovations, the tax commissioners office will move from the courthouse to a new location at 1013 Riverburch Pkwy. just off the North Bypass in mid-January, and the tax assessors office is relocating to the Staten Building across from Dalton City Hall.Project will also increase securityThe project will also include construction of a second sallyport aimed at increasing security in the courthouse.

The new part of the courthouse already includes a sallyport, a secure elevator, and a secure hallway to get inmates to each courtroom without coming in contact with a judge or a jury or the public, but thats not the case in the old part, according to Mr. Benson.

So if they were to bring somebody and needed a secure way to get them to the main courtroom, theres not one, he said. They would just have to bring them in the sallyport in the new courthouse, and then there would be a distance they would have to transport that person where they could come in contact. Of course, there would always be an escort by law enforcement, but they could still come in contact with somebody.

So this project will construct another sallyport in the old part of the courthouse where police cars can pull in, have the door close behind the car, enter a secure elevator that will go from the ground floor up to the top floor where the main courtroom is and then a secure hallway to get that inmate into the courtroom without coming in contact with a judge or the jury or the public, so thats a pretty big upgrade.

The county will open bids on the project on Dec. 11. The contractor chosen will then have to get their bonds and weve got to get the contracts executed, Mr. Benson said, so by the end of the year, we want the contracts executed and everything ready to go so that they can be ordering materials and getting ready to work on Jan. 20. In the meantime, weve got to get the tax commissioner and tax assessor moved out. Were also working on a temporary location for the Victim/Witness program while their office is being renovated.

Mr. Benson says the entire old portion of the courthouse will have to be empty by the time construction starts late next month, and he believes the work should be completed by mid-October.

We hope to start on or about Jan. 20, and weve got to be done by Oct. 1 because theres a city election in November next year and theyll have early voting in October, he said, so weve got to be done (with the elections storage room) by Oct. 1 to get those machines back over there in time for the election. There could still be some small items to be done on the top floor or the ground floor after that, but weve got to have the middle floor where the elections equipment goes totally finished and ready to be occupied by Oct. 1.

Continued here:
With New Roof Installed, Whitfield County Now Turns To Interior Renovations Of Old Part Of Courthouse Next Year - The Chattanoogan