Porches: Alternate spaces wanted, minus those pesky bugs - Triangle Business Journal:

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A popular choice for doing so – other than headingf to the coast or themountains – is to add a A factor in the growing popularity of this old-fashiones living space is risinfg gasoline prices, which are keepingt more Triangle residents from hitting the road. “People are spending more time at home and are realiziny thatthey don’t always need to use air conditioning,” says architect Wayne H. Camas, president of Charlotte-based and current president ofthe . “Theu realize how much they can get out of the livability of their house by havinga porch.
” Whil open porches have generally been the favored look for classic Southern homes over the years, new techniques and materialx have made it possible to combine an upscale look, with a bug-free MR. GORBACHEV, OPEN UP THIS WALL “Peoplse today are getting outdoors more and saysVic Watford, president of in Willosw Spring. “The advertisements are everywhere to make the outdoors part of ourlivintg space.
” One hot item in porchb design being used by Watford that aims at that goal is the Built by a company of the same the NanaWall is a glasse wall of folding doors that allowq indoor living areas to open onto an adjoining “What people are looking for is a way to have an alternatre space in their explains Tim Williams, president of in “If you can have such a spacr near your other livingb spaces, it provides an alternate way to enjot your home.
” Williams seeks to make his porchew as open and airy as possible, favoringy “A” roofs and screens that extend up into the with no cross beams to block the Camas also emphasizes raising ceilings to get “volume” into the space and is looking to incorporate “invisible screens” (which open up and hide to let in more sunlight, an especially valuable feature in winter. Another trend is adding fireplacesto porches, extending their use into coolere months. Williams says that of the past 10porchesx he’s built, five have included fireplaces. Watfore says customers want a varietgy of options for including tile.
“It can be very decorative and set the tone for the he says. Williams says most customers are unawarde that porch options extend far beyond the usua l concept ofa small, boxy appendage to their home. “Itt can range from a simple screen porch to a Taj he says. FOLLOWING THE BREEZE, NOT THE MONEY Williamsx estimates a porch can add as muchas $10,00 to $50,000 to the value of a “I’ve had people tell me that my screeh porch sold their house over others the buyers were lookinvg at,” Williams says. “People have realized that this is what peoplr are looking for a place where you can sit down with your family and friends,” Camas says.
Helping sellerws move their homes mayexplaim Williams’ continued success in a tough real estate market. “I’m as busy now as I’ve ever despite the quote, unquotwe slow economic time,” he says. Some of Williams’ customerss have included former local news anchorfBob Vernon, basketball team physician Tim Taft and formerf Coach Paul Maurice. Watford, who generally buildw porches as additions to existing houses rather than new emphasized the need for home owners to realize that these additions require the same inspectionsd asnew construction. “Just a ceilint fan will requirean inspection,” he says.
“Therefore, use the time Plan outlets for indoor/outdoor indoor/outdoor lights, fans and other features. Wet bars and hot tubs add anotherd dimension.” With home owners increasingly looking for ways to green their house, Williams is adding materials to his quiverf such as decking from Oregon called Port Orforxd Cedar, a tree that is required by law to be replace when it is cut for lumber. “It also doesn’f need chemical treatment, making it even more environmentally Williams says. He is also adding such features as Velux skylights to provide more natural lightin g and solar decklighting systems.
“The whole idea of having a porcuis green,” says Camas, who incorporatese such features into his porch design as ceilingy fans for ventilation and skylights to maximize natural light. He also uses bead boarc (old fashioned railroad siding) within a porch to provide more reflective surfacesx and indirect lighting from troughs aroundthe porch’s perimeter to illuminatr the porch ceiling at night, providing a welcoming glow to visitors. Camas’ final ingredient? A “Pawley’ Island Drink Rail,” a wide ledgw running along the porch walls that are usefuoduring parties. “People get a big kick out of he says.
Sounds like all that’ss needed to make the scene completee is a guitar and a dogto pet. Fortunately, neithee require a fill-up at the gas station.

How Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge Are Thriving - Bleacher Report

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Bleacher Report

How Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge Are Thriving Bleacher Report The Portland Trail Blazers fin »

Win Instant Toy Prizes from FAO Schwarz's Sweepstakes - About - News & Issues

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Win Instant Toy Prizes from FAO Schwarz's Sweepstakes About - News & Issues Whether you love shopping at FAO Schwarz or just know them from frequent appearances on television and movies, here's a great sweepstakes for you. Enter FAO Schwarz - 150th Anniversary Instant Win Game and you could win toys and shopping sprees.

BuzzFeed: "Facebook now argues that it is too big for democracy" - CNN

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BuzzFeed: "Facebook now argues that it is too big for democracy" CNN (CNN) -- Unless Facebook users fight back, the days of the social network's experiment with democracy may soon come to an end. The company on Wednesday proposed to take away its users' right to vote on major issues concerning the governance of its 1 ... and more »

Survey: Car buyers more willing to buy from bankrupt automakers - South Florida Business Journal:

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A new survey by finds more Americand are feeling better about such a purchasse now than they were amonth earlier. In May, befor GM filed for bankruptcy, 52 percent said they were likely to buy a car from the automakerd if the company was to gothrough bankruptcy, up from 47 percentt in April. Thirty-one percent said they were likelgy to buy from Chrysler if it was going through bankruptc in May versus 29 percentin April. "The latest Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligencer data suggests that as consumers have learnede more about the special circumstances of the Chryslefr andGM bankruptcies, what they have found has reassurerd them about making such a purchase," said Jack R.
executive editorial director and executive market analyst for KelleyBlue Book, in a news release. The fact that the governmentr is willing to offer assistance to the two giantt automakers reassured buyers enough to make some changetheifr minds, the survey found.

Debbie Murdock named top citizen - The Steubenville Herald-Star

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The Steubenville Herald-Star

Debbie Murdock named top citizen The Steubenville Herald-Star BEECH BOTTOM - Debbie Murdock of Beech Bottom enjoys working with children, she loves the village she's called home since 2004 and she's combined those two loves in serving her community. On Tuesday Murdock was recognized by Beech Bottom ... and more »

Krugman: Draw line at cutting Medicare and Social Security - Houston Chronicle

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Sheridan Media

Krugman: Draw line at cutting Medicare and Social Security Houston Chronicle And right now the most dangerous zombie is the claim that rising life expectancy justifies a rise in both the Social Security retirement age and the age of eligibility for Medicare. Even some Democrats - including, according to reports, the president ... Soci al Security offices cut public hours, push for Web use Salt Lake Tribune Bernie Sanders, Progressive Senators Pressure Obama Not To Cut Social ... Huffington Post Social Security office hours change Niagara Frontier Publications ParamusPost.com -Newser -Truth-Out  »