Home insulation scheme royal commission: Public hearing opens in Brisbane

The royal commission into the home insulation scheme will focus on how the Rudd government may have contributed to the deaths of four men.

Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes, Mitchell Sweeney and Marcus Wilson all died while working on the rollout of the so-called "pink batts" scheme set up in 2009.

The first public hearing of the royal commission into the Rudd government's home insulation scheme, which was linked to the deaths, has begun in Brisbane.

The royal commission is investigating whether the deaths of the tradesmen could have been avoided.

The $2.5 billion scheme, which was implemented as part of the former government's stimulus package in the wake of the global financial crisis, was also linked to hundreds of house fires.

The royal commission will inquire into whether the former government was given any advice, warnings or recommendations about the program and how they were identified, assessed and managed.

It will also consider the effects the program had on the community, families and long-standing home insulation businesses.

Brisbane lawyer Ian Hanger QC has been appointed the commissioner of the inquiry.

"I will have a particular focus on the way in which the government identified, assessed and managed workplace health and safety risks, and whether the government had sufficient regard for those risks in developing and implementing the home insulation program," he said.

"I'll can consider the impact of the program on pre-existing home insulation businesses and consider the relationship between government agencies in managing and coordinating responses to risk.

"My aim is to find answers to the questions unresolved in previous inquiries. Put simply, what really went wrong."

Commissioner Hanger has until the end of June to prepare a report that takes into account the findings of previous coronial inquests and other inquiries into the scheme.

He will also able to recommend changes to laws, policies and procedures in an effort to prevent it from happening again.
Father 'wants to know why warnings were not heeded'
Video: Lawyer Bill Potts discusses the aims of the royal commission. (ABC News)

Lawyer Bill Potts is representing the family of Mr Barnes, 16, who died while installing insulation near Rockhampton in 2009.

Mr Potts says his client hopes the royal commission will provide answers to some lingering questions.

"Murray Barnes, who was Rueben's father, knows what killed his son," he said.

"What he wants to know is the whys. Why were decisions made? Why were warnings not heeded?

"And why it is that on Christmas Day, there'll be an empty place at his table where a much-loved son in the prime of his life will no longer be."

Matthew Fuller's father Kevin Fuller says previous inquiries and inquests left questions unanswered.

"I think today's hearing set the scene for what will be a challenging time for the families but hopefully, and all we've always wanted, is for the truth - the whole truth - to come out, changes to be made so no-one else goes through what we've been through," he said.

Earlier this year Queensland coroner Michael Barnes found three of the workers had not been given adequate training.

Mr Barnes also criticised the previous federal government for rushing through the program in a bid to stimulate the economy.

The coroner stated there were "inadequate safeguards" and "process failings" relating to the handling of the scheme by federal agencies.

Red Cross offers tips to prevent holiday home fires

The American Red Cross is urging residents to take extra precautions when cooking and decorating around the holidays.

    "Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, and as people are cooking and entertaining this holiday season, we're urging that they take safety measures to ensure that their homes and loved ones are safe from the threat of fire," said Chip Kragt, regional disaster officer for the American Red Cross of West Michigan.

    Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving are the top three days for cooking fires, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. Nationally, the Red Cross responds to a disaster on average every eight minutes, and the vast majority of them are home fires.

    The Red Cross has some simple steps everyone can follow to prevent home fires around the holidays:

    Holiday Entertaining

        Test your smoke alarms.
        Check food regularly while cooking and remain in the home while cooking. Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.
        Enforce a "kid-free zone" in cooking areas. Keep children at least 3 feet away from the stove.
        Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stove, oven or any appliance that generates heat.
        Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
        Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen.

    Holiday Decorating

        Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
        Keep children, pets and decorations away from lit candles.
        Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
        Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Read manufacturer's instructions for the number of LED strands to connect. Some strings of lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
        Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged. n Keep decorations away from windows and doors.

    Citizens may download the free American Red Cross First Aid app, which provides instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies. The apps can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to

    People also can test their knowledge on how to prevent home fires by taking the fire safety quiz, and can learn more about fire prevention by visiting

    The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. For more information, visit redcross.org or on Twitter at

Affordable Housing: Addressing Long Island's Greatest Challenge

What follows is an introduction to the challenges of providing affordable housing on Long Island, from a land use, urban planning and public policy perspective.
[Affordable Housing: Addressing Long Island's Greatest Challenge]

Long Island, as a region, is far more complex than most give it credit for. Spanning a wide array of socio-economic demographics, New York City’s principal suburb faces a unique challenge in the coming decades: Ensuring the provision of housing options that are both desirable, and affordable to a wide swath of the region’s population.

The provision of affordable housing on Long Island has been called the region’s greatest urban planning failure of the last fifty years. According to pre-recession estimates made by the Long Island Regional Planning Board, the Nassau-Suffolk region needs 41,429 affordable housing units. This figure is especially startling when one takes into account the exponential increases in the price of homes across the area, paired with the rise of the cost of living over the last decades. Areas that once served as the affordable bedroom communities to Manhattan and its environs are now out of reach for young professionals and families. To fully understand the issues surrounding our housing woes, it is necessary to look at both the political climate of Long Island, the needs and wants of residents, and the development process itself.

Urban Planning theory dictates that balance must be struck by three often-conflicting forces: Economics, Social and Environmental. On Long Island, land use and zoning codes are crafted to accommodate the needs of the underlying aquifer system where our drinking water comes from. The reason why so many communities lack the apartments that developers and other involved stakeholders claim the region needs is because the appropriate wastewater systems aren’t in place. Socially, the Island’s communities are strictly divided. A quick drive between Garden City and Roosevelt or Dix Hills and Wyandanch shows how the two ends of the socio-economic spectrum can coexist roughly a mile or two apart. Economically, the job opportunities available to Long Island’s young professionals are few and far between, further exasperating the lingering effects of the recession. Add in homeowners who are wary of change in their community, and the result is the convergence of powerful forces to complicate an already complex policy issue.

Further, the regional discussion on how to nurture affordable development is being led by advocates, developers and other stakeholders who have a “dog in the fight” when it comes to increasing density. We must move away from this stakeholder dominated regional discussion, and get real, data-driven policy analysis by those without bias.

Regionally, it is the job of policymakers and residents to take charge and begin to fully quantify and understand our regional housing problem. First, there must be a clear understanding of what exactly is to be considered “affordable” in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Often, Area Median Income (AMI) is measured in a variety of ways that lump in our unique region with New York City, Connecticut and beyond. What is needed is a standardized approach to assessing AMI which takes into account the economic nuances of Long Island. Next, we must begin to fully quantify how many truly affordable units exist across both counties.

Once these challenges are addressed, Long Islanders can finally get serious about addressing our affordable housing woes.

Tips for Making an Old Home More Energy Efficient During the Winter -

Old homes are often full of charm and classic beauty, but they can also require a lot of maintenance and upkeep. Additionally, many old homes are also significantly less energy efficient than new homes because of things like insulation that isn’t efficient, drafty windows and doors, and outdated heating and cooling equipment. SecuritySystemReviews.com, a home security system comparison resource of companies like Lifeshield security systems, has created a list of ways owners of older homes can maximize their efficiency.

1.    Old homeowners should consider insulating attic spaces. This can have a tremendous impact on a home’s energy efficiency, and significantly reduce heating and cooling costs. The best types of insulation available now are blow-in spray foam options. Insulating an attic can be a fairly easy DIY project, and many home improvement stores rent the necessary equipment, including insulation blowers.

2.    If it’s feasible from a budgetary standpoint, replace old windows and doors and choose new, energy efficient options. Since this is expensive, adding storm shutters and clear plastic coating to windows can help an old home be more efficient. For homeowners who can’t replace doors and windows, adding window stripping and caulk is also a good idea.

3.    Insulate the hot water heater and associated pipes, and keep the thermostat set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If possible, consider a tankless water-heating unit. These are an upfront investment, but they save money in the long-term, because they only heat water when it’s needed.

4.    Enact home heating zones. This means strategizing to heat a home based on usage. For example, heat the downstairs of an old home during the day, and the upstairs at night.

5.    If an old home also has old appliances, it may be worthwhile to invest in newer energy saving models. While there are some things owners of older homes can’t control without big remodeling investments, this is a less expensive alternative.

6.    Just because a home is old doesn’t mean it can’t take advantage of new technology, like home automation systems. A home automation system can allow owners of older homes to control the systems located within, even remotely, including the thermostat.

About SecuritySystemReviews.com

SecuritySystemReviews.com is the nation’s leading provider of information pertaining to the home security industry. In addition to informative articles and news, the site also provides reviews of the top security systems throughout the country. Whether a resident is searching for West Virginia security systems reviews or Oregon security systems information, it’s available on SecuritySystemReviews.com in a simple, easy-to-understand format. In addition, the site also provides valuable coupons and discount codes which can be used toward the purchase of a new home security system.

Three children find new homes on Adoption Day

ST. JOHNS — For three children, Nov. 26 was a very special day.

Adaleigh Kusnier, Jordyn Fowler and Justin Kissling got their forever homes during a special Adoption Day celebration at Clinton County Courthouse. Judge Lisa Sullivan officiated at the 10th annual Clinton County Adoption Day.

“This is my favorite day of the year,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan thanked many people for making the event possible.

“First of all, I want to thank the families,” she said. “They don’t need to be here. They don’t need to share their stories. They do it to bring attention to the need for foster and adoptive homes.”

Representative Tom Leonard was the guest speaker at this year’s Adoption Day. He told the large group of family and friends who gathered to support the adopting families that he had worked as a clerk for Genesee County Probate Court for six months after finishing law school.

“Every Wednesday was adoption day in our office,” he said. “What a blessing.”

Leonard said he never realized how important adoption was until he was handling his last case as a Genesee County assistant prosecutor.

A couple of teenagers were on trial for doing something really, really bad, he told the crowd. The trial lasted two weeks.

“Not once did either of them have one single person there to support them,” he said. “That’s when I realized how important adoption is.”

There are currently 63 children in Clinton County living in out-of-home placements. Some of them are living with relatives other than their parents. Many of them are living in foster homes with people they are not related to.

Of those 63 children who have been removed from their homes, 22 are waiting to be adopted. Some of the others will eventually be returned to their biological parents and the rest will be cleared for adoption.

“We always have a need for more foster homes,” said Sullivan.

Having enough foster parents isn’t just about numbers, she said. It also involves finding the right placement. Sometimes children have to be placed outside of Clinton County to find an appropriate placement – if siblings need to be kept together or if there are special circumstances.

3 Tips for selling your home in 2013

After years of declining home values and a buyers’ market, 2013 could be the year of the seller.

Though the situation varies by region, we’ve seen a glimmer of hope for sellers and the housing market in general over the past six months. Homes that didn’t move for a year started getting activity as buyers came off the sidelines, their confidence in the housing market and their financial situations greatly improved. That confidence, coupled with record low interest rates and rising rents, has been the fuel the real estate market needed. Add to this the low inventory seen in many markets, and you’ve got buyers motivated to make a purchase.

If 2013 might be your year to sell, start planning, engaging professionals and doing as much of the legwork as soon as possible. You only have one chance to be “Just Listed” in this new market. More than ever, you’ve got to put your best foot forward when presenting your home to motivated buyers.

Here are three things you can do now to transition from homeowner to successful home seller.

1. Know the comps

One of the first people you’ll want to reconnect with is your real estate agent. They are your “feet on the street” and have their finger on the market’s pulse. Real estate agents generally pick up on trends or shifts in your particular neighborhood or market before the press or the bloggers.

So get on your agent’s radar as soon as possible. Start going to open houses to see what’s selling and to get a feel for values and how homes are being presented. Likely a home you see at an open house in February could sell by the time you list in May or June. Future buyers will probably use this home as a “comparable” sale. Having seen the “comps” yourself puts you in the buyers’ mindset. It enables you to get ahead of the curve or learn from the mistakes of other sellers.

2. Have your property inspected

The buyer, after they have a signed contract on a home, is supposed to pay for an inspection, right? While that’s true, you can beat them to the punch and know what needs to be repaired before you go on the market.

Imagine if you list your home and have a great offer from a solid buyer. But the buyer finds out through the inspection that the roof needs replacement and the deck has dry rot. That excellent offer may not seem so great if you have to negotiate thousands of dollars in credits with the buyer.

Having your property inspected months in advance will allow you time to make a plan to get the big (and small) things repaired. If you can identify the problems upfront, you can fix them for a lot less money than those repairs would get negotiated for down the road. Or, you can price your home factoring in the needed repairs. Plus, a home with a clean bill of health can be advertised as such. Many buyers are looking for a home in “move-in” condition, free of any needed repairs or fixes.

3. Hire a designer or stager

Your real estate agent should have a good designer or stager they like to work with -- someone who can help you start to view your home as a product to be marketed. This should be someone you reach out to once you have the place inspected and know the property’s condition.

Many people think a designer means big money or a wasted expense, but this isn’t always the case. Many designers charge by the hour. It could be as easy as hiring a designer for two hours to help you decide on colors to paint a room or two; a stager to help you declutter or decide which furniture to move out to make some rooms show better.

Based on your real estate agent’s feedback, you may decide to engage the designer on a minor kitchen or bathroom remodel. An old kitchen with linoleum countertops, knotty redwood cabinets and avocado-colored appliances can easily be updated with an inexpensive cabinet makeover and new stainless steel appliances.

You’ll save money in the long run

Like any major decision, selling a home takes a lot of planning, timing and consultation. Consulting with professionals and getting the facts in advance will help the process go a lot smoother, will help you make an informed decision and will most likely save you a lot of money when you sell.

If you’re a homeowner, transitioning to a seller mindset isn’t necessarily easy. The sooner you start that transition, however, the easier the process will be. But be aware there can be an unexpected, if ironic, outcome: Some would-be sellers do the fix-it work to their homes, clean up some rooms, or paint and update the entire place -- only to fall in love with their home all over again and decide to stay.

4 Tips on Buying the Best Kitchen Set for Your Money

Kitchen sets are typically made up of between two and four appliances and sold at prices that can be steeply discounted from the cost of buying each product separately. While these discounts can prove to be tempting, the best way to make sure that you’re buying the best kitchen set for your money is to assess four considerations before making the purchase.

1.  Avoid buying on impulse.
 Impulse buys tend to occur when shoppers have only a vague idea of what they’re looking for in a kitchen set. By prioritizing the features desired in each appliance on the shopping list, you’ll be able to make informed decisions on the best value between competing products, whether they are part of a kitchen set or sold separately.

2.  Define how the appliances will be used and buy accordingly.
Deeply slashed prices on a kitchen set made up of commercial grade appliances will not be a great buy for someone who bakes frozen pizzas and microwaves Hot Pockets. Make sure that the appliances that you’re planning to buy as part of a kitchen set match your cooking style as well as the décor of your kitchen.

3.  Research each appliance in the kitchen set.
Make sure that each component of your kitchen set will perform to expectations. A little bit of caution is warranted here because the manufacturer that builds a fantastic refrigerator may not be producing dishwashers at the same level of quality, for example.

4.  Consider the size of each appliance.
This is an often-overlooked issue that can become problematic if one or more of the appliances in the kitchen set doesn’t fit in its intended location. Before making a purchase, measure the space as well as each appliance to ensure that you’re buying the right appliances for your kitchen.

Buying kitchen sets is a great way to save money on the purchase of multiple appliances. By assessing these considerations before making a final decision, you’ll be able to make sure that you’re saving money on appliances that you would have purchased separately based on their individual merits. If you need help finding the right set, the experts at Standard TV and Appliance can help. Stop by one of their five locations today to find the perfect kitchen set for your home.

Tips for keeping your home safe and dry this winter

(BPT) – Freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall are in store for much of the country this winter, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, and that means homeowners need to start taking immediate steps to ensure that their loved ones and property stay safe and warm through the long, cold months ahead.

Last year, winter storms caused $38 million in insured losses – a below-average figure, according to Munich Re. But this year could be much worse. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts that reduced solar activity combined with certain weather patterns in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans will result in plunging temperatures and increased snowfall for many regions in the United States and Canada.-

“As always, water is your home’s worst enemy,” says Rebecca Hudzik-Presson, assistant vice president of Claims and Risk Services at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. “Every year, water does more damage to homes than fire, but every year too many people forget to do the little things that protect their property.”

Luckily, there are several easy tasks to include on home maintenance checklists and most of them are no-cost and low-cost chores that could end up saving homeowners big bucks.

An effective list of winterizing tasks should include:

* Install weather stripping around doors and windows, caulk exterior windows

* Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to recirculate warm air downward

* Install plastic shields on basement and attic windows

* Consider sealing off areas of the house that are rarely used

* Keep closet doors shut

* Move furniture away from heating vents

* Close the fireplace damper when not enjoying a fire

Indoor flooding

Burst pipes and indoor flooding can wreak havoc on your home and personal possessions. While faulty pipes can be a problem in any season, even well-maintained pipes can burst if they freeze – and they are much more likely to give way during winter when temperatures plunge.

A bit of preventative maintenance can help your family stay warm and dry all winter. Wrapping exposed water pipes with insulation is a quick and easy precaution.

Another excellent way to prevent indoor flooding is to install an automatic water shut-off valve. These devices cut off all water to your home when they sense unusually large amounts of water flow and can be integrated to your alarm system so that the alarm company is alerted to the emergency. Shut-off valves are a great idea for people who plan weekend trips or extended vacations and are also good for vacation homes that sit empty for long periods.

And if you do leave home this winter, keep the heat set to at least 55 degrees. Spending a little more on heating can prevent freezing in the pipes that run through exterior walls and foundations while you’re off enjoying a winter getaway.

Backup power

When the weather turns really nasty and knocks out power, a backup generator will protect your home and family from winter’s worst ravages.

“If you have a backup generator, be sure that it’s connected to your home’s most vital systems: sump pumps, security and fire alarms,” says Hudzik-Presson. “Many people simply wire generators into the ‘comfort circuits,’ like lighting, heating, cooking and refrigeration, and forget about the other systems running in the background. If the power goes out, you’ll want all your security and plumbing to keep right on working.”

Fire danger

While water is winter’s most invasive weapon, furnaces, boilers and chimneys represent serious fire risks if not properly maintained. A professional chimney sweep can remove soot and other combustible debris that builds up over time and boilers and furnaces should be inspected annually. Also, never use boiler or furnace rooms for storage.

Candles are always popular during the winter season. Don’t leave burning candles unattended and keep them away from flammable objects.

Finally, put new batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test them to make sure they are in good working order.

3 Tips for Getting "Home" for the Holidays

Turkey in the fridge. Parents out shopping. First-year college students upstairs sleeping, getting ready to break up with their high school sweethearts while they're in town. The holiday season has begun.

At the heart of the holidays is the idea of going home. But where is home these days?

Like the promise of working at the same job for your whole career, the traditional notion of home has largely given way. Home means many things today, few of which resemble the programs we grew up watching on TV, with families like the Brady Bunch or the Cosbys.

So, in the days and weeks between now and New Years' Day, how do we approach going home? Where is home, and how do we get there?

Here are 3 tips for getting started.

1) Realize the storybook "home" was partially true, but for most people, plenty of fiction. It's easy to grieve for the home everyone else seems to have but we don't. But actually, few people ever did experience the "Home Sweet Home" version. I still wonder how the Brady's managed to pay the expenses for all those kids, including their helper Alice, dutifully available every day in her uniform in the kitchen. I don't think Carol Brady had a job, so Mike was one darn successful architect.

2) Realize "home" is a concept that evolves over time. A few days ago I landed at Schiphol airport in The Netherlands. As I got off the plane I thought to myself, "it's so good to be home." Only one year ago I wrote the following sentence in my book, describing my move here to live with my new Dutch husband: "I'd be stretching it to say that Amsterdam feels like 'home." If the safety and comfort of home feels far away to you now, have faith that this isn't a permanent state of affairs.

3) Realize "home" is a state of heart-and-mind as well as a physical place. Thinking home is a house in the place where you grew up overlooks how much we generate the sensation of "home" inside of ourselves. We can touch that experience of "home" even if that house has long since been sold. If all the people we loved in our first house have died. Or we never had a place we called home in the first place. If we're alone this holiday season, or we have excellent reasons not to go back to the dwelling of our youth, ever. Ultimately we are home when we know our place in the wider world, we know who we really are, and we know the purpose of our lives. In that sense, we can all go home, no matter where we are for the holidays.

Get your home sorted for a sale with the 12 tips of Christmas

our property is arguably your biggest financial asset – so when you come to sell it, there is an obvious desire to get the best possible price.

Some people may stall putting their home on the market until after Christmas, but some careful thought, affordable changes and spot of festive DIY may add value to your home as the decorations come down and the New Year approaches.

Research from the National Home Improvement Show earlier this autumn reveals that by spending less than £5,000, you can significantly boost the value of your home – which could include anything from re-decorating, de-cluttering and deep cleaning to adding new flooring or updating the bathroom or kitchen.

Su Snaith, head of estate agency at Harrison Murray and The Nottingham, said: There always seems to be so much going on in the run up to Christmas, and for many people, home improvements are the last thing on their mind.

“However, if you can find some time amidst all the preparations and shopping, planning and carrying out some fairly simple DIY and housekeeping tricks with minimum disruption may have the desired affect of adding value and put you ahead of the game when you come to market your property after Christmas.”

The 12 tips of Christmas:

Spruce up your paintwork with a fresh neutral look throughout, simple and effective.

Hire a carpet-cleaning machine for the weekend and give your carpets a deep cleansing shampoo.

Giving your kitchen a makeover doesn’t have to cost the earth - you can give it a new lease of life by replacing cupboard doors, drawer fronts and worktops. This is far cheaper than a complete kitchen overhaul.

Similarly, you can spruce up your bathroom cheaply if the sanitary-ware is left in the same position.

Replacing the grouting around sinks and baths will give an instant brighter and cleaner look.

Make sure the doorbell and smoke alarms are in good working order and replace the batteries if necessary – a small, but valid point.

DIY enthusiasts could sand original floorboards and either paint them or stain them; hiring a sander is not very expensive.

With windows, focus on replacing any broken panes and repairing the frames. Repaint them then add new draught seals to improve energy efficiency and reduce noise pollution.

Updating light fittings is pretty easy and may even give a whole new look to a room.

Don’t overlook the garage – statistics show that 55 per cent of us don’t use the garage to park the car in. Try and keep it tidy and store all items on shelves to give an impression of space rather than clutter.

It may not be typical gardening weather, but whatever the season it is important to show off your outdoor space. Make sure all tools and toys are packed away out of sight. A few colourful potted containers will help to cheer up the wintry outdoors.

Last but not least, be prepared when your agent arranges a viewing. Tidy up as best you can and get ready to show off your home to its true potential … and wait to that all-important offer!

Fulton home is meant for family

Six years ago, Victor and Margaret Kim purchased a 1-acre parcel in Fulton and proceeded to build a glamorous home with a serious purpose. Once it was completed, the couple took Margaret Kim's 96-year-old grandmother out of assisted living and into their home.

The grandmother lived with the Kims in their brand-new, completely handicapped-accessible home until her death the following year.

The total cost for the land and the custom-built 9,000-square-foot Colonial-style mansion came to $1.8 million. Outfitted for easy access from room to room and with an elevator opening onto three levels, it is a home the Kims plan to enjoy into their senior years.

Margaret Kim and her physician husband own and operate two Howard County locations of AllCare of Maryland Urgent Care Centers. The design scheme for their home, equipped with higher commodes, lower sinks and door handles, aimed for both style and function.

"Building an ADA [American Disability Act standards for Accessible Design] or Universal Design Compliant [UDC] luxury home fits my family's needs today and for years to come," said Margaret Kim, who has a 12-year-old daughter, Bridget, living at home, as well as grown children and grandchildren who come to visit. "Almost everyone who enters my home does not even realize [it is] a UDC home."

A sampling of universal design elements include wider hallways throughout the home, oak wood flooring, low-pile carpeting, a shower with a pull down bench, an intercom system in every room, windows designed to be wheelchair-height for ease of looking out and a telephone in the elevator.

However, first and foremost for Margaret Kim was the creation of warmth, elegance and balance throughout every part of the home's interior and exterior.

"I wanted to incorporate the feng shui elements of earth — family, kitchen, living room — by custom-painting beige, also using water elements of blue for the kitchen wall which helps evoke refreshing energy of color and calmness, incorporating wood elements which signify growth and finally, vitality by custom-painting the second-floor hallway with alternating brown stripes. [I] used fire to emphasize high energy by painting the lower-level wall[s] pink."

"I wanted to create an open design, flowing, UDC home that has an intimate, comfortable, lived-in feel about it but was formal and elegant with transitional pieces of furniture to bring the home together full circle at the mosaic in the foyer."

The swirling mosaic design of the tile has been inlaid in the marble floor of the foyer, adjacent to a cantilevered staircase to the second level. Margaret Kim also employed a painter to give the downstairs walls a marble appearance.

"My favorite room in the home is my kitchen," she continued. "I love spending time cooking, working at the ... kitchen table, looking out the window at my backyard deck patio and pool and also sitting on my deck under the pergola and sipping a cup of tea."

Both high-tech functional and thoroughly outfitted, the kitchen features a Viking range with front mounted controls and a lowered stovetop. Two stacking Fisher Paykel dishwasher drawers offer ease of loading and unloading the dishwasher from a wheelchair. A side-by-side Viking refrigerator features easy-to-access handles.

In her quest for brightness and joy, Margaret Kim has filled the six-bedroom, eight-bathroom home with 28 hanging Schonbek crystal chandeliers and a living room filled with Federal-style furniture. For the dining room, she purchased a triple-pedestal, 12-foot-long mahogany table.

"I also love my bedroom, as it has whitewashed antique Henredon furniture and beautiful whitewashed plank flooring that evokes the beach and is soothing and calming," she said.

The master bathroom has a steam shower, a Jacuzzi tub and heated marble floors.

Paintings and tapestries on the walls and Asian works of art enhance the decor. Set pieces rest on several tables alongside family photos and awards given to her daughter, a competitive swimmer.

The house also has a six-bay finished garage with access to an indoor hallway. The Kims use it to host fundraisers for charity and hold large family gatherings. Their hope is to continue doing so for many years to come.

"We have received over 15 unsolicited offers over the past two years to sell our home," Margaret Kim said, "even though these people have never seen the inside and they don't know that it is a UDC home."

Right at Home: Tips for a no-fuss Thanksgiving

Preparing a Thanksgiving feast ranks high on the entertaining stress-o-meter.

Expectations, traditions and a home full of guests can make even the most seasoned host lose sleep.

But don’t let the anticipatory list-making, house-fluffing and food preparing become more tiring than it needs to be. Some expert advice and helpful products can make Thanksgiving entertaining more stylish, fun and fret-free.

Kevin Sharkey, executive creative director at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, begins with a why-didn’t-I-think-of-that idea:

“If you have performance anxiety about the day, what if you (threw the party) the night before or after?

Sometimes I think the only reason to have Thanksgiving is to have sandwiches the next day. So have a great lunch or cocktail party instead,” he suggests.

Guests are just looking for a convivial atmosphere, so don’t bother with fancy appetizers.

As Sharkey points out, guests won’t remember the homemade potato chips you slaved over; they’ll remember the stressed-out you.

Serve simple things on interesting plates or in silver bowls, and it all looks special.

For example, West Elm has Shanna Murray’s gold-penned bisque stoneware salad plates. (www.westelm.com)

Instead of a complicated bar, come up with one fun drink to serve as a showpiece, then add a few bottles of wine and sparkling water.

If you’re doing a casual Thanksgiving meal or a lunch, consider setting out an interesting variety of craft beers, as well as vegetable juices and iced tea for the non-drinkers.

Better Homes and Gardens has suggestions for make-ahead nibblers such as mini gruyere puffs that can be made a month ahead and frozen, or mini meatballs in a tangy apricot sauce that can be re-warmed in a slow cooker during cocktail hour. (www.bhg.com)

At Realsimple.com, you’ll find lots of make-ahead appetizers, salads, sides, breads and desserts for Thanksgiving.

If you do plan to host on Thanksgiving day, keep the menu simple.

“No one wants 14 different things. And don’t be ashamed to get certain things from a store, or to ask people to bring something,” Sharkey says.

Oma Ford, executive editor at Better Homes & Gardens magazine, says she’s not usually a potluck fan “but it’s actually a wonderful way to approach the Thanksgiving feast. We often spend the holiday with friends who usually make the turkey and desserts and then ask all their guests to bring a side dish they couldn’t live without.

The sides are really the fun, interesting part of the meal, and with this approach none of the guests feels like they missed out on a favorite or traditional element of the feast.”

Does a friend make awesome mashed potatoes? Is a relative the pie person? Do you have a nearby market that makes yummy stuffing? Ask, order and lessen your workload.

5 Guidelines to Choose the Right Windows for Your Home

The windows in a house are very essential. As you stroll past a shut screen, if you observe an air circulation arriving through it then it's about here we are at screen alternative. Now is enough a chance to do it because screen alternative expenses are very affordable.

Here are 5 tips to help you in deciding on the best windows for your home:

Buy two lite cup windows. This makes a lot of sense no matter where you live. The two window panes make a deceased air space, assisting to both protect and lower air conditioning expenses. It also is essential that these window panes are gas loaded, which will keep fog and wetness from building within the window panes.

Buy Low E cup. This decreases the dangerous UV radiation arriving into your house. There will be less diminishing of furniture shades from the sun’s radiation. Low E cup is a security that is a must for your whole family.

What is the window’s starting style? Think before you choose. Do you want a double-hung screen, or one that slides? Maybe you just want a fixed screen that does not open. Consider the long run and what you will like several years from now.

The be sad gaps should be protected. Every screen has be sad gaps to strain wetness from them. Create sure the windows you purchase have capable or a similar content protecting them to keep bugs out.

Make sure the screen supports are protected. Some screen producers do not protect the inner supports of the windows. The supports should have a froth insulating content, which will help air conditioning expenses.

If you need a screen alternative, get it prior to later because it will both save you a lot of money on your power expenses and increase the value of your house.

Four Essential Guidelines for a First Time House Buyer

If you want to buy your first house, but feel completely confused by thinking of how to go about the whole factor, well you are absolutely not alone. Actually, majority of individuals preparing to buy their first house become quite pressured while trying to understand how to buy properly. A right strategy to the whole procedure can however create factors easier for them. Defined below are four essential guidelines that would save an excellent of your time and keep you stress-free throughout your residence trip. So, try this advice and see how quickly you get through this procedure.

* Arrange finance in advance - Ensure that that you do have a down payment large enough to get a loan. It is also essential to have adequate extra cash, to be able to keep going even if you get captured in an prolonged agreement. Besides, before starting to search homes for sale, do not forget to get a mortgage pre-approval. It could be really frustrating if you realize that you have found your perfect house but the bank is not willing to offer you cash.

* Choose the community properly - It is not just the residence and its features which are essential, the place where it can be found also maintains excellent importance. You need to ensure that the place around your new house has everything that you would need in near future. Things like close by educational institutions, medical centers and range to the actions, closest stores and your office are essential to consider. Choosing the incorrect place can create you repent your decision later. So, be very cautious while considering the place of your new house.

* Talk to your new others who live close by - Speaking with the individuals who are already living in the place where you are preparing to buy a house can be of excellent help. They can provide you a lot of useful information about the place which your agent or source would never give. Talk with at least four to five individuals and try to know factors like environmental disturbance, criminal activity rate, safety in the place etc. Understanding about these crucial factors would help you decide whether or not you should buy a house in that particular place.

* Home examination - Once you discover your perfect house, create sure to analyze it several periods before choosing to buy it. If needed, seek the services of a house examiner to analyze the residence. You would be amazed to see how efficient these experts are in discovering the invisible problems of a house. Many customers analyze the residence only once or twice. However, to be able to determine every little factor that is incorrect with the residence, it is essential analyze it no less than five or six periods. You would be stunned to discover many problems in the residence during your fifth or 6th examination, which you skipped during your past trips. A professional house examiner is well aware of this reality and guarantees to pay the needed number of shock trips to the residence.

So, adhere to these useful guidelines and see how easily you would be able to buy your perfect house.

All Organic Washing Guidelines For Your Home

Numerous individuals don't realize that there are numerous things in the cooler or around the house that might be utilized as a cleaning operator. From lemons to table salt things you wouldn't typically use for clearing can now and then get out a stain that a cleaning executor can't.

Lemons

Ever had the lime scale on your sink and fixtures that either take rancid dye or a great deal of cleaning to take out? Lemon juice is more acidic than for the most part cleaning items and evacuates lime scale rapidly. Simply let sit for a couple of hours then return and wipe off with a material.

While you're in the bathroom cleaning the sink with your lemon, you can utilize lemons to clean your grout moreover. Include a few teaspoons of lemon squeeze to cream of tartar and combine to make glue. You can apply with a toothbrush or whatever possible sort of cleaning get over then wash it with a wet fabric and your grout is perfect.

Table Salt

Oily Pots and Pans could be cleaned a ton simpler with somewhat table salt. Overlook the elbow oil attempt something that is characteristic and dependably around the house. Sprinkle a squeeze of salt on pots and container to ingest the abundance oil. Leave on for only a couple of minutes then dump out the salt and water mixture. Remember this is not proposed for non-stick cooking items -incredible for solid metal.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste is made out of a cleanser, a delicate grating and a germ-murdering segment that is incredible in uprooting stains. The old school glue is truly a cut above the more current type of gel toothpaste and gets the plain not the ones that promote better breath or whitening executors. At times these could be pointless excess and harm quality metals. Offer these tips with your companions and add some fun and variety to your cleaning errands.