Monday, September 10, 2012 by LAURA CARROLL a Vegas bathroom may soon receive top billing in a hall of fame near you.The loo inside Vanity Nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel is one of 10 finalists in Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom contest, a competition that salutes the most luxurious public toilets in the country. through Oct. 26, voters choose their pick at bestrestroom.com after taking a photographic tour of each facility. One first-place winner will be chosen and a runner-up will secure a place in the restroom Hall of Fame.In case you’re wondering what makes Vanity’s women’s bathroom so great, it’s a 2,000-square-foot space that features 11 stalls and six sinks. Individual vanity stations line one wall, each with separate lighting and red-velvet seats on which to rest your derriere. Gold-plated faucets, gold-trimmed curtains and a custom-designed $40,000 chandelier complete the finishing touches. And, a cocktail waitress is available for drink service. Now that’s a restroom.Rumor has it that discounts are in.At its August convention, the Offprice Show sold out its exhibition space at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, resulting in 125,000 square feet of trade show and 500 exhibitors. The show’s management had to tell several interested exhibitors that they were out of space.Offprice also noticed increases in attendance for the footwear and international buyers categories. The show offers buyers sources for apparel, accessories, footwear and jewelry, often at up to 70 percent below wholesale prices."We noticed a lot of buyers buying in bigger quantities again," said Charlotte Wilson, sales manager of Richmar Fashions. "it was a break from buyers being more conservative the past few shows."Offprice, which is scheduled to return to the Sands Expo from Feb. 17 to 20, is produced by Dublin, Ireland-based Tarsus Group.This month, Food 4 Less has something to celebrate.The supermarket chain just finished a major remodeling at its North Las Vegas location at 3013 W. Craig Road. The 59,161-square-foot store underwent almost three months of redesigns, including a new full-service meat and seafood department. This marks the first Las Vegas area Food 4 Less to feature a full-service meat and seafood counter.Additional renovations include an expanded produce department, a service deli and bakery area and an expanded selection of ethnic foods.besides the renovations, 15 new jobs were added at the store, bringing the total employee count to 80 people. In all, Food 4 Less operates 14 stores in the Las Vegas Valley and 145 throughout Southern California, Nevada, Illinois and Indiana.a local institution is turning the big 3-0.Alligator Soup, Las Vegas’ paper place for three decades, is celebrating its birthday this week in a big way. On Sept. 13, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is scheduled to present a city proclamation to the store, which is owned by Helen Edell and Sharon Carelli.From its original location at Flamingo Road and Decatur Boulevard (since closed), to its Village Square store and eventual expansion into The District, Alligator Soup has attracted clientele of all ages and walks of life throughout the years. Kids could be seen at the Flamingo and Decatur location choosing single sheets of paper and stickers, while adults flocked to the store for wedding invitations and baby announcements.Here’s hoping Alligator Soup, founded in 1982, is around for another 30 years.Do you have a news tip for Intel? Email lcarroll@reviewjournal.com Be sure to include contact information.
Nothing but the best is what you’ll find in this home located at 2105 Mockingbird Lane in Larkin Township and priced at $690,000.
The house is top of the line and stunningly beautiful everywhere you look both inside and out. the 3,400-square-foot home sits on 3.11 acres with mature trees and professional landscaping. the ranch style home has ceilings ranging from 9 to 14 feet throughout the main floor of the home and an additional 1,500 square below grade. The home features four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a three-car attached garage among its many amenities.
When you enter the home the formal dining room is immediately to the left. The dining room measures 14-by-16-feet and has hardwood floors and a large window looking out over the front of the property. the room is open to the foyer area, and makes a very striking first impression. The window treatments, as through the entire home, are very impressive as well.
The formal living room is directly across from the foyer and faces the back of the home taking in the incredible view of the wooded property. The room is carpeted and measures 18-by-20-feet and is perfectly arranged for a cozy seating area for conversations with guests.
Three of the four bedrooms are to the right of the entry with the master bedroom being in the back of the home. The two guest bedrooms in the home measure 13-by-15-feet and 12-by-15-feet and share a Jack and Jill bathroom. The master bedroom measures 18-by-18-feet and is truly like a master suite out of a magazine. The room is perfectly arranged with the bed centered in the room flanked by windows and, of course, the current homeowners have added all the right accessories, in all the right places. Their attention to detail is impeccable throughout the home, and it shows. The master bath is beautiful with his and her closets with lights that go on when you open the doors, his and her vanities and both a tub and shower. All of the fixtures (sinks, faucets, lighting and countertops) are top of the line, and just perfect.
The kitchen is on the other end of the home and measures 14-by-13-feet and has beautiful hardwood cabinetry and granite countertops. In addition to the top of the line stainless appliances, the kitchen also boasts two sinks, perfectly placed for food preparation for a feast. A snack bar island divides the kitchen from the family room, and three bar stools are placed by the island for dining.
A door leading to the brick paver patio is off the kitchen and family room as well, and the outdoor living area is just as beautiful as the rest of the home. The patio has two different levels for entertaining and the extended eves on the home offer both a covered area and a sunny area for outdoor living. Pot lights above illuminate the home in the evening, and the quietness of the surrounding acreage is very noticeable in the back of the home in particular. The family room measures 20-by-21-feet with a corner fireplace and a combination of long and short windows again perfectly arranged to make the most of the room’s layout and allow for the perfect spot for the big screen TV, a necessity in every family room.
Also on the left end of the home is another bedroom measuring 15-by-12-feet and bathroom, perfect for guests, or even as an almost separate suite with the entrance from the garage being right around the corner as well. The laundry room, right around the corner, measures 8-by-11-feet complete with sink and plenty of storage cabinets.
The lower level of the home is equally as beautiful as the main floor of the home, with really no distinction between main floor and lower level. The basement is finished and carpeted with the most sumptuous plush carpeting and is divided into a three area room perfect for relaxing and watching TV around the fireplace, enjoying a game of cards on the game table, or pouring a glass of wine from the bar area complete with microwave and refrigerator. There is also an additional room downstairs currently used as an exercise room and a full bath. The unfinished area of the basement is all set up for ample storage space. A French door nicely divides the lower level from the main floor, and offers a nice entrance as well as providing noise control I’m sure. A second set of stairs from the garage leads directly to the basement as well, just another feature that makes this home so special.
This is a beautiful home in the beautiful Sturgeon Woods subdivision. for more information on this home or to arrange for a private showing, contact Karen Sirrine of Re-Max of Midland at (989) 839-0090.
TYPE OF HOUSE: ranch
ADDRESS: 2105 E. Mockingbird Lane, Larkin Township
LOT SIZE : irregular shape – 3.11 acres
SCHOOLS: Jefferson, H.H. Dow High
LISTING AGENT: Karen Sirrine – Re/Max of Midland
Kevin says: What is there not to love about this home? It is a showpiece both inside and out. the setting is gorgeous, and you are really just minutes from town, and the home shows like new. It is a large home that flows well, and gives you a nice cozy feeling in every room that you are in. The basement is really special, and finished to perfection. The set up is perfect for entertaining, or just hanging out and enjoying the family. Beautiful home!
Lori says: I love the master bathroom with its back-to-back double sinks in the middle separated by a short wall. on each side is a walk-in closet, and either the toilet or shower. the jet bathtub is on the end. the bathroom can be entered on either side by doors with frosted glass. the fireplace in the family room is beautiful with its smoky grey stacked stone. the use of fabric throughout the house, whether drapes, valances or bedding is simple yet stunning
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RiverBend Ranch, a 214-acre ranch located along a half mile of the Weber River with a 16,800-square-foot designer-furnished estate, fenced pastures, trails and hillside ranges, just 25 minutes from the heart of Park City, home to the Sundance Film Festival, will sell during a live auction without Reserve on September 14th, Concierge Auctions has announced. Previously offered for $29 million, the property — which was completed in 2010 — will sell to the highest bidder in cooperation with listing agents Paul Benson and Shane Herbert of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty.
“‘Remarkable’ is the first word that comes to mind when describing RiverBend Ranch. Having lived and worked in the area almost 10 years, I can say that of all the luxury properties for sale in the entire state of Utah, RiverBend is truly one-of-a-kind with features and qualities beyond compare,” Benson stated. “Although current zoning requirements provide for homes to be built a minimum of 100 yards from the river’s edge, this residence was permitted and constructed just feet from the water’s edge due to a grandfathering provision. When the doors from the living room, kitchen and bedrooms are open, it literally sounds and feels as if the river is inside.”
Stretching across the mountain pastures with spectacular views of the famous Mt. Timpanogos in the distance, the residence at RiverBend Ranch is selling fully-furnished with designer furnishings, art and accessories and boasts eight en suite bedrooms, each with a private deck and patio. all nine bathrooms have custom-designed sinks, fixtures and solid wood custom cabinetry, and the eight custom-built fireplaces each have a separate chimney. In addition to a custom mahogany bar, wine room and 25-foot-tall, floor-to-ceiling walnut library bookcases, the property also contains a gourmet kitchen and chef’s pantry, a state-of-the-art theater that can accommodate up to 20 people, an art studio, four laundry centers, an outfitter’s room with direct outdoor access, a private bath and shower area and a billiard’s loft and gaming area with a large private deck overlooking the river. the eight-person steam sauna has a waterproof audio sound system, and there is a geothermal radiant heated flooring system throughout.
“following nearly five years of careful planning and meticulous craftsmanship, our vision for what this idyllic riverfront setting deserved was realized just three years ago,” stated the seller, Doug Dohring. “We’re told by virtually every visitor, including the most seasoned traveler, that RiverBend Ranch is the most distinctive and extraordinary property they have ever seen.”
Dohring added, “Now that we are spending our time on the West Coast with the newest addition to our growing family, our precious grandson—and soon-to-be granddaughter—we chose Concierge to market RiverBend Ranch due to their impressive track record of successfully helping sellers receive true market value for their unique, one-of-a-kind assets.”
All the exterior living spaces include covered porches and decks. the heated, eight-car garage has drive-thru access on two bays, and there is riverside lighting for evening entertaining. There are also two barns; four ponds, including a large trout pond; a 10-person hot tub and two fire pits, both riverside; direct fly fishing access from the back patio; 18 raised organic garden beds; and a 400-square-foot heated chicken coop, complete with a fenced run.
“Concierge Auctions is known for selling the most unique, storied properties in the country that truly are like no other, and RiverBend Ranch is a perfect example. not only is the property amazing, but it also speaks toward a wide range of buyers. An individual or family could either live here or maintain it as a vacation residence. Or, it could be used commercially as either a company-owned corporate retreat or an income-producing event facility,” stated Laura Brady, Vice President of Marketing for Concierge Auctions. “the Concierge process is a tried-and-tested choice for luxury ranch owners, as evidenced by our auctions of other premier ranches in upscale areas including Telluride, CO, Big Sky, MT, Jackson Hole, WY and Teton Valley, ID. We’re excited to launch our first sale in Utah and look forward to continued success out West.”
Oakley is located about an hour east of Salt Lake City, and just 25 minutes from Park City – the main location of the United States’ largest independent film festival, the Sundance Film Festival. Started in 1978, Sundance has changed from a low-profile venue for small-budget, independent creators outside of Hollywood to a media extravaganza for celebrity actors, with many celebrities owning homes nearby. with an elevation of 6,500 feet, Oakley is a gateway to the Uinta Mountains, and is most famous for its annual rodeo, held each year on the Fourth of July weekend. various shops and restaurants are just 10 minutes away from the ranch.
The auction of RiverBend Ranch will be held on September 14th. a 2.5% commission is offered to the buyer’s representing broker. the property is open for preview daily from 1 to 4 p.m. and by appointment. see Auction Terms and Conditions for full details. For more information visit RanchAuctions.com or call 877.636.7517.
About Concierge Auctions: Concierge Auctions is the preeminent luxury real estate auction firm serving high-end sellers nationwide through an accelerated marketing process that obtains fair market value for high-end properties in a 60-day timeframe. As a preferred auction partner to Sotheby’s International Realty® and other luxury brokerage firms nationwide, the company has executed auctions from New York to Hawaii and hosts a database that includes more than 100,000 luxury real estate buyers and agents from all 50 states and 38 countries and territories. the principals of Concierge Auctions have been involved in the transfer of more than $2 billion in luxury real estate sales over the past 10 years. For more information, call 888-966-4759 or visit ConciergeAuctions.com.
Knightsbridge Law is a boutique law firm in Thailand. the lawyers of our firm have provided legal advice on a variety of areas of the legal practice, including: Investment Grade Real Estate; Mergers and Acquisitions; Establishing Business in Asia; Corporate and Commercial consultancy; Asset Management; Banking, Finance and Securities; Listing Companies in Asia; Global Metals and Mining Contact the AuthorShayne Heffernan Shayne Heffernan oversees the management of funds for institutions and high net worth individuals. Shayne Heffernan holds a Ph.D. in Economics and brings with him over 25 years of trading experience in Asia and hands on experience in Venture Capital, he has been involved in several start ups that have seen market capitalization over $500m and 1 that reached a peak market cap of $15b. he has managed and overseen start ups in Mining, Shipping, Technology and Financial Services.Read the Terms of Service
Home grown… natural timber and corrugated iron walls give Bald Hills B&B a cosy ambience.
Hilda Quiroga discovers quirky and luxe touches in an eco-friendly house.
Is it a horse? Is it a pony? a clumsy jumble of legs, flapping ears and drooling jowls comes galloping towards me. I brace for the impact and in the tangled mess of arms, legs, tail and drool, I almost tread on Buster, or is it Poppy? It’s a good thing Ian from Bald Hills B&B has already checked in an email beforehand that we are comfortable with dogs, in this case a great dane and two chihuahuas.
The house was a labour of love for Ian, a stonemason, and his partner, Leanne. it has been operating as a bed and breakfast since last November and its close proximity to the historic town of Beechworth and the popular Stanley Pub means it well booked.
The care and thoughtfulness of the design is evident throughout; it feels like a grown-up’s tree house, with nooks and crannies, a loft for kids, eclectic furnishings, Aboriginal art and a cool 1950s cocktail cabinet that belonged to Ian’s dad. the bench-top bar once lived at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. there is even an old, huge surgery lamp that swivels and is attached to a wooden beam.
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The house is a homage to the native trees that surround the property: exposed beams of red gum, blue gum, yellow box – the wood sourced from fallen trees or recycled. Corrugated, galvanised iron makes up the walls and ceiling, not a scrap of plaster to be found. the house has a five-star energy rating and is self-sufficient for water. LED floor lighting adds to the cosy ambience, as do the wood-fired stove, leather couches and the many books that are tucked away in a loft.
And then we ate the kitchen is fully stocked with a walk-in pantry, an industrial-size stove-top and all the modern cooking implements you will need. If the idea of cooking is too much to bear, then wander along to the nearby Stanley, a local pub that is winning many hearts.
The deal maker We stay in the East Wing; bi-fold doors open out to the pool and outdoor decking. the bathroom has a deep, free-standing stone bath and a marble shower with a generous shower head.
From our red wood-framed queen-size bed, my partner spots a potoroo and, as dusk descends, a mob of kangaroos gracefully hops by. in the stillness of the night, we hear the rush of the nearby Stanley Gorge, not the easiest to access, we’re told. the West Wing is suitable for families and can accommodate up to four adults and four children, who get a secret loft and plenty of board games.
Stepping out it feels like staying at a friend’s; the morning is spent chatting over coffee with Ian and then walking through the wet, glistening forest with rays of sunlight playing with the curls of smoke from the chimney.
We’re sad to leave but we have a lovely drive through chestnut orchards to enjoy and we take a piece of Bald Hills with us – a car boot stuffed with donated wood for my partner, a wood-carver.
Weekends away are reviewed anonymously and paid for by Traveller.
VISITORS’ BOOK
Bald Hills Bed and Breakfast
Address 570 Myrtleford-Stanley Road, Stanley.
The Verdict a luxurious “tree house” in beautiful surrounds.
Cost $600 weekend rate for the East Wing (suitable for a couple) or $640 weekend rate for the West Wing (four adults and up to four children). less for week-night stays. Pets welcome. Fully self-contained.
A Brevard County woman claims the light bulbs she bought to save energy could have burned her house down. Action 9 found more than two dozen homeowners who believe CFL light bulbs, made by the same company, were a fire hazard. “It was still smokey in the bathroom, but the odor was horrible; it was a strong electrical smell,” said Judy Remmel. Remmel claims a CFL bulb shot out sparks, flames and smoke at her Merritt Island home. “That’s my fear. if I wouldn’t have been home, my house would be gone,” said Remmel. The bulb Remmel described is a bright Effects bulb manufactured by Feit Electric. Remmel said the white base turned brown. Pictures sent by other customers to the Consumer Product Safety Commission show obvious damage. Action 9 checked the agency’s complaint files. Twenty-four other consumers claimed a Feit CFL bulb could have started fires. Most said they saw sparks and smoke. Three said they spotted flames and others found melted plastic. “It seems to me that they are dangerous,” said Remmel. Feit Electric told Action 9 some consumers were concerned about smoke and sparks. They company said that’s how CFL lights can fail in rare cases, but the fire retardant parts will not ignite. In an interview with UL Labs, the group that rates electrical safety, John Dredgenberg said a smoking bulb can be disturbing but is not a fire risk. “This is the normal end of life scenario for these compact fluorescent bulbs, especially the earlier versions,” said Dredgenberg. those safety assurances did not change Judy’s mind about what she saw and the risk she felt. “I’ve removed those light bulbs from my house,” said Remmel. if there is an investigation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said it cannot comment. The CPSC did recall two CFL bulbs just last year. They were both considered fire hazards. those bulbs were from Telstar and Trisonic and both were made in China.
As you look forward to your open house and wowing potential buyers, you might be tempted to make some improvements to your home.
But before you order new marble countertops or remodel your master bathroom, take note of this warning from Elizabeth Weintraub, broker associate with Lyon Real Estate: “Probably the most basic rule of all is that you should never — unless you absolutely don’t care at all about eventual resale value — improve a house to the point where its desired sales price would be more than 20 percent higher than the most expensive of the other houses in the immediate neighborhood. If you try to raise the value of your house too high, surrounding properties will pull it down.”
According to Weintraub, major improvements such as room additions or total replacements of your kitchen and bath rarely pay off fully in the near term, and are unlikely to return their full cost if the house is sold within two or three years. instead, “small and relatively inexpensive changes can pay off in a big way, making your home attractive to buyers if your decision is to move now.”
In addition to the big factors of comparative pricing and return on large-budget home improvement projects is the reality that you may not have an extra $20,000 lying around with which to undertake a major remodel before your open house. The good news: you can boost your home’s ability to impress at an open house with just a $100 investment per small improvement.
Here are some easy-to-complete, stress-free and impression-making improvements that you can plan for your open house’s optimal success:
1) Replace a lighting fixture in your kitchen or bathroom, putting in a more modern design that provides more flattering illumination. “My father-in-law taught me how to change a light fixture and do the wiring in just one afternoon,” says new homeowner Joseph Torres.
If you don’t have a relative or friend with experience in light installation, your local Home Depot or Lowe’s store may offer a free class on the do’s and don’ts of light fixture installing. call your store to inquire about their seminar schedule, and request one on lighting if they don’t already have a class planned. Real estate website HomeGain says lighting fixes provide an 865 percent average return on investment.
2) Replace all of the lighting switch wall plates in your home. Upgrade to a style such as modern brushed nickel, create a uniform style from room to room on the first floor, and choose wall plates that coordinate with your bedrooms’ styles. This task can be completed for less than $40, depending on the number of light switches in your home.
3) clean all of your windows, inside and out, on an overcast day to prevent streaking, and remove all window screens to give them a good cleaning with a gentle brush and soapy water before rinsing and rehanging.
Vacuum and wipe clean inside each windowsill, including the tracks, and spray tracks with lubricant such as WD-40 for smoother, soundless operation.
At your open house, potential buyers like to see new-looking windows that allow plenty of light into each room. Pristine, clear windows impress, and all for less than $25 in cleaning supplies. a stager’s secret: Raise your shades or blinds all the way up to the top to allow a greater amount of light inside.
4) “Getting rid of dead trees and shrubs can have a very big and very positive impact on prospective buyers,” says Weintraub.
Pulling up dead, aged or unattractive shrubs is free when you do the work yourself, and it can take just $100 in nutrient-rich soil and new green or flowering shrubs or flower flats at a nursery or Home Depot or Lowe’s to present attractive curb appeal and a well-planted path to your front door. If your landscaping is fine, invest that $100 in fresh, new, healthy potted green plants for your indoor areas, plus a new “kitchen garden” planter full of herbs for your kitchen windowsill.
“We wanted buyers to imagine themselves cooking in this kitchen,” says home seller Estella McNulty. “For $27, we bought a lush herb planter, and for $60, we bought a half-dozen green plants for our home’s decor.”
HomeGain.com says landscaping fixes earn a 426 percent average return on investment.
5) Set out fresh bathroom linens. use that $100 to buy matching, plush towels in spa-style neutral colors such as beige — not in colors the buyer might not like, such as red or purple — and display those on towel racks, with matching hand towels and washcloths set on the vanity. Add a matching-shade new shower curtain and matching, fluffy new bathroom rugs to help guests envision this space as a relaxing, spa-like oasis.
A simple task that costs less than $100 can change the look and feel of a room, and small touches such as those wall plates impress buyers who walk in with an eagle eye for the little details. “A good broker can help you decide which expenditures make sense and which don’t and can save you a lot of money in the process,” says Weintraub.
Written by Donald Eng Wednesday, 29 August 2012 13:38
Does a $460 annual return on a one-time $75 investment seem too good to be true? It did to first Selectman Timothy Herbst too, until he took advantage of the United Illuminating Co. Home Energy Solutions program energy audit. Herbst’s audit was the symbolic beginning of Trumbull’s involvement in the state clean Energy Communities program, where towns pledge to increase energy efficiency.
The program is supported by the state Energy Efficiency Fund. It is available for $75 to homeowners throughout UI’s service area.
Herbst moved into his 1,800-square-foot home last year. the house had been in a state of disrepair when he purchased it and he said he had spent about $50,000 in renovations.
“My appliances are new, so they’re pretty efficient,” he said. most of the home’s windows also are new, but Herbst said he expected he was wasting a lot of energy on lighting.
“Most of the lights are still standard bulbs,” he said.
Bethany Meccariello, a program spokesman, said the energy usage audit typically saved homeowners about $200 a year, essentially repaying the $75 program fee almost instantly.
For about three hours last Thursday, UI employees and independent contractors swarmed over the house inspecting light fixtures, checking for gaps in walls and windows that could allow heat to escape and evaluating insulation levels in the house.
Workers replaced 25 incandescent 60-watt lightbulbs with compact fluorescent models, each using only 13 watts. they also set up a fan on his front door to simulate a 20 mile-per-hour wind.
With the fan activated, air poured into the kitchen through an 18-inch gap behind the refrigerator. other areas where heat could escape included around the fireplace and, surprisingly, from the light switches and electrical outlets.
Herbst said he had noticed some drafty spots over the winter, but confidently predicted the upstairs parts of the house would fare better. they didn’t.
Ascending the stairs, there was a noticeable breeze, which was traced to the pull-down attic stairs. Contractors installed a foam gasket so the attic door made an airtight seal before moving on to the bathroom, where more air was leaking through gaps around the pipes where they went into the wall.
Back on the main floor, still more workers were installing aeration faucets in the kitchen to reduce water use. Finally, the inspection team recommended Herbst install more insulation, and left rebate forms that were usable with any contractor.
So how much did he save? according to the audit report, the efforts to seal air leaks will save Herbst $220 on annual heating cost. If the house had central air conditioning, the figure would be significantly higher. the more efficient bulbs will reduce his annual electricity use by $194 and the aerators should cut his water bill by $45.
Should he decide to follow the audit recommendations and install a newer furnace and more insulation, an estimated $2,500 expense, he would save another $562 annually. Also, a new water heater and furnace would qualify for a 4.99% financing program and additional insulation qualifies for a 0% financing program.
The savings in Herbst’s home are typical for a house that is 46 years old, said UI spokesman Patrick McDonnell. they said the program paid direct benefits to participants from Day 1.
“The total value of what we are doing here is about $750, but the program is funded through the state and the company, so the cost to the homeowner is only $75,” said McDonnell. “The best part is the savings begin immediately, and it pays for itself right away.”
I know, I know. There are these huge, plain, and boring 24 x 48 fluorescent ceiling lights, right in the middle of your kitchen, your conference room, or your individualized office decor. a homeowner will always have the option to upgrade to a different lighting type, possibly spend thousands of dollars, to demolish existing lighting, wire for the new fixtures, replace the removed sheet-rock, and locate the new fixture locations. the purchase of replacement lighting fixtures will introduce you to a whole new world of options and price ranges. After all of the demolition, and installation, there remains the textured ceiling matching, most often followed by a re-texturing of the entire ceiling, just to achieve uniformity. it can be overwhelming to the DIYer, and will test many a household budget, to complete the task.
FYI, fluorescent lights, were installed in the 70′s and 80′s, in millions of homes and offices. they were an inexpensive solution to providing full lighting to drop ceiling offices, and in household spaces, that required more than a single bulb in the ceiling, to keep you from stubbing your toe on the bed corner. Today, there are tax credits for using ‘GREEN’ lighting fixtures, like fluorescent lights. GO GREEN
There are a limited number of companies that offer solutions to making existing fluorescent ceiling lights more attractive. if you consider the type of lighting that is needed for your particular purpose, an option exists, for enhancing the esthetics of your existing fluorescent lights.
There is a psychological benefit to using a calm, more serene depiction of nature, in medical and dental practices, etc.. Most often, these spaces utilize additional lighting, to assist with medical procedures. Public spaces, like waiting rooms, lobbies, and casinos, might utilize images like sky and clouds, or green foliage, and even ‘Tiffany’ style panels. These replacement fluorescent panels will work well in these settings.
A few things need to be considered, when deciding on an option for decorating an existing fluorescent ceiling light. will your space suffer from a loss of light after installing a decorative panel. will you be happy if the replacement panel changes the color spectrum of the space to blue, or green, or brown (Tiffany). will you appreciate the outcome, when you consider the cost, the effort to trim a rigid panel to fit your fixture, and the change made to the space, in terms of light loss and color change.
Very few options exist if you require your kitchen, office, or other work space to retain its light quality, and color spectrum. Additionally, the process required to re-size, a rigid plastic panel, will often lead to the destruction of the panel. Many will hesitate to attempt this feat, for fear of ruining the panel, and losing a fair amount of money for their purchase.
The option to decorate your existing fluorescent ceiling light, without having to replace, or resize a rigid plastic panel, is also available. a graphic overlay, reproduced on a heavy ‘Mylar’ like material, can be installed on top of your existing panel, or cover. These overlays are literally fireproof, and have an ASTM fire rating that classifies them as ‘slow to self extinguishing’. a fluorescent tube light will only heat to around 60 degrees.
These graphic overlays are inexpensive, easy to install, and will not alter the light quality or color spectrum of the room. Architectural patterns, and wrought iron designs, are available to complete your interior design theme. the low cost, and ease of installation, will reinforce your decision to retain your existing fluorescent ceiling lights, and create a sense of pride, that only a well designed interior can produce.
August 4 The winner of a home-decorating contest meets the band while fans find various ways to enjoy the show.
PORTLAND – By 7 a.m. Saturday, Nance Monaghan’s son, Lex Goduti and his friends were on Monaghan’s roof at the corner of the Eastern Promenade and Congress Street erecting a ship in hope of catching the eye of Mumford & Sons.
At stake was personal time with the Grammy-nominated British folk rockers and possibly a concert in Monaghan’s living room.
The early wake-up call was apparently worth it, as the Monaghan household won the impromptu decorating concert. it rated a brief drop-in by the band but, alas, the rumors of a private concert were apparently incorrect.
Mumford & Sons hopped in golf carts late Saturday afternoon as other bands entertained thousands of fans packed onto the Eastern Prom. Joined by Portland Mayor Michael Brennan — who gave band members a key to the city — they took a look at the decorated houses and judged the ship design the best.
The house was augmented by a huge "We (heart) Mumford" banner, lest the English group miss the message.
Band members briefly stopped by the house to congratulate the winners and then headed back to the concert, city officials said.
Attempts to reach the Monaghans for comment Saturday were unsuccessful.
City officials said that, as far as they knew, the honor of being chosen — and brief stop by the band — were the only prizes in the contest.
Monaghan and her family were among a half-dozen or so residents along the Eastern Promenade who took up the band’s challenge to decorate their homes as part of the day-long "Gentlemen of the Road Stopover" festival on the Prom.
"I thought I might as well put a ship on my house," said Monaghan, a hard-core fan of the group who thought it was a joke when she heard last spring that the band was playing in Portland.
With a sweeping view of the concert stage from her rooftop deck, Monaghan had perhaps the best view of the day. And like many other residents of Munjoy Hill, she decided to throw a party to celebrate the festival, which essentially took over the neighborhood and shut down city streets surrounding the park. Monaghan also asked her guests to donate $10 to the nearby St. Lawrence Church rebuilding project.
A festive atmosphere reigned in the usually quiet side streets in and around the Eastern Prom. Many of the residents took advantage of their proximity to the concert, opening their yards to family and friends at barbecues to listen to the music while ticket-holders had to pay $69 to get in.
On and around the Prom, some people were relaxing before going into the show, while others who didn’t bother buying tickets had planted themselves for the evening.
Ken Jones said he got the OK from a homeowner on the Eastern Prom to set up lawn chairs and a folding table — with cheese, crackers and grapes — from which they could enjoy the show.
"We got a discount," said his friend, Rosa Cheney of South Portland.
Ben Gould, 27, found the perfect perch on a jungle gym near the concert. he said he had to work a shift at five Guys at 6 p.m., but planned to watch for a while first.
"I can pretty much see everything from here," he said.
Gould, who lives in Portland, took walking trails to get to the show. Others had a longer commute.
Keith Nagy, 27, said it took him and his friends six hours to get to Portland from their homes in Montreal. They admired the venue as they walked down the hill toward the prom for the first time.
Shahin Muttalib said it was his first visit to Maine.
"the air is really nice," he said.
But not everyone thought the concert was such a great idea.
Loretta Griffin, who lives on Congress Street two blocks from the Eastern Promenade, wasn’t at all happy that the "Gentlemen of the Road" music festival was taking place in her neighborhood.
"I had plans to go out tonight and now I can’t go" because of the road closures, Griffin said. "It’s nice for a lot of people, but the inconvenience for me is awful."
Griffin said she also feared the exodus after the concert would be similar to the end of the July 4th fireworks shows on the Eastern Promenade. Those shows, she said, have left her yard littered with trash, and the noise in the streets continues until early morning.
Most people seemed to relish the concert and opportunities it provided.
Katie Gibson’s backyard at her 32 Wilson St. apartment was filled with 30 or so friends. She said a fellow tenant was using the concert to host a bachelorette party for her niece from Aroostook County.
Gibson said everyone at her party had a ticket to the festival, but they spent the early part of the afternoon in the shade.
"We thought we would drink our own beer, eat our own food and use our own bathroom before heading down," said Gibson.
Dan Galli, whose family owns a home at 12 moody St. overlooking the Prom, watched the river of concert-goers flow by his open garage, which was fitted out with a couch, a 1969 Pepsi cooler and a gas grill.
"We are going to have plenty of friends," said Galli.
"And the price is right," added Eric Mosley, who also lives at 12 moody St.
John Rogers and Lisa Lemieux of Falmouth, who just bought a house on Congress Street but have not yet moved in, walked their 11-year-old pug through the throngs of people.
"We bought at the right time," said Lemieux. "We are going to love it up here."
Nancy Nevergole, a ceramic artist, and Russ Sargent, a poet, set out tall ceramic poem vessels and vases at their apartment at 166 Eastern Promenade, hoping to beat out their neighbors in the house-decorating challenge.
"only thing: We have a really tiny living room," said Nevergole. "So maybe they can play on the porch."
Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:
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