On her first visit, 15 years ago, to the abandoned school complex that was to become her family home, Veva van Sloun was in for a surprise. Located in a busy area of Ghent, the old school was shielded from the main street by bamboo planting. Beyond the white gate she discovered it had a hidden courtyard garden, not to mention its own chapel. The site was much bigger than she anticipated. “It was so dilapidated that when I leaned against the wall some of the bricks crumbled and fell off,” she recalls.
Undeterred, she decided to take on the renovation. The chapel had been extended to house the school kitchen and gymnasium. These elements were removed to restore the chapel as a separate entity, giving van Sloun, her husband, Jan, and their children more space. “We had to take off the roof and rebuild it brick by brick
Change is on the horizon for Whidbey Island’s oldest library.
The Langley Library, which has been part of Village by the Sea for almost a century, will receive a much-anticipated update in the new year regarding the building’s accessibility and functionality.
The $2 million renovation project, which could start as early as February, will make better use of the library space downstairs and create meeting space for the public, among other things.
In 2021, the Sno-Isle Library received a $700,000 capital-boosting grant from the state for the project. In addition, the library system contributed $1.2 million and Friends of the Langley Library raised $30,000.
Since 2022, representatives from the Sno-Isle Library have met with members of the community, Langley City Council, the city’s Design Review Board, and the Historical Preservation Commission to gather input on proposed renovation plans.
Sno-Isle Library Deputy Director David Durante said nearly 50 people attended the
An Australian mother has confounded the internet with a seemingly innocent photo of her 14-year-old daughter’s bedroom after receiving a ‘makeover’ from Bunnings Warehouse.
The woman, who lives in South Australia, posted to Facebook on Monday with photos of the finished product, which showed her daughter’s bed, desk and storage unit.
City police have charged a man they say defrauded a couple over home renovation work he was expected to perform for them.
A couple seeking to revamp their northwest Calgary home contacted local firm Envision Custom Renovations in December of last year, say police.
“Between January and April 2023, the victims had several disagreements with the hired contractor, which included the victims being invoiced for sub-contractor materials, several scheduling delays and work not being completed within the agreed upon timeframe,” city police said in a press release.
“In April 2023, the victims discovered the invoices provided by the contractor, that they paid for, were fraudulent and contacted the police.”
It’s alleged the contractor altered and forged the billings by presenting them as subcontractor invoices and collected money through his business.
Police have charged Envision owner Alan Wade Hrehirchuk, 53, with two counts of forgery,
The paperwork needed to do a bathroom renovation in Vancouver is extensive and expensive, according to a local homebuilder.
Avi Barzelai, a licensed residential builder and renovator based out of East Vancouver, highlighted the process in a Twitter thread that’s gone viral.
“Working with the City of Vancouver is the absolute worst part of my job, by far,” Barzelai, who operates the Barzelai Building, told Global News in an interview Wednesday. “I deal with clients, I deal with trades, I deal with a lot of headaches. It’s nothing personal to the (city) staff, it’s the system. The system is broken.”
Barzelai said there are 10 steps that must be met before any work can even begin.
These steps include reports, inspections, permits, and surveys which, at minimum, will cost close to $10,000 he said.
The process starts with a
During the COVID-19 pandemic, countless people looked around their homes and contemplated the upgrades or improvements that they should make. But few companies were fully operational during the height of the virus, meaning that these renovations had to wait. Fast forward to last year, and eager homeowners were ready to take the plunge on their projects.
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Unfortunately, the pandemic did more than just make us want to revamp our homestead; it also brought record-high inflation, labor shortages and supply chain issues — a perfect storm in the construction industry. The cost of home improvements has skyrocketed, but undeterred or unaware of the price increase, many homeowners have charged forward with their much-awaited projects.
According to our research, an astonishing 88% of people
Looking for a fun and easy DIY project? These heart-shaped plastic bottle gift boxes are perfect for anyone who loves crafts. Easy to make and looks beautiful when finished. You can use it as a storage box or as a decoration, depending on your needs. This project is perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or any other special occasion. With just a few materials and a little time, you can create something extraordinary that will be treasured for years to come.
We all know that one person is impossible to shop. You know, people who already have everything they want? Well, this year, we have the perfect solution – make custom heart boxes and fill them with candy or cookies!
This unique gift box is made from
