Upscale Downsizing

Less CAN be more! Today, people are downsizing their space . . . while remaining upscale in taste. Using examples ranging from 600-square-foot apartments to a small cottage-style house, as well as inspirational real-life stories from downsizers, home-style guru Leslie Linsley shows readers how to achieve maximum aesthetic results. She offers solutions to every problem--storage tricks, entertaining in small spaces, flexible layouts, and more--all lavishly illustrated with over 200 full-color photographs.

People from all over the United States come to Nantucket Island to celebrate Christmas in the charming Early American setting. From the Christmas Stroll along cobblestoned Main Street to the Festival of Trees held each year at the historic Whaling Museum, Nantucket celebrates the holiday season with traditions and decorations that transform the island into a winter wonderland. Join renowned style and craft expert Lesley Linsley as she takes readers on a holiday tour through this picturesque island, offering her own ideas for recreating a quaint Nantucket-style Christmas along the way.

EXPERIENCE LESS STRESS WHILE DOWNSIZING AND DISCOVER CREATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS TO ACHIEVE A STYLISH INTERIOR Downsizing is often associated with negative feelings and emotions. With her beautifully illustrated practical guide Downsize with Style Bettina Deda encourages you to see it differently, to embrace the change and the opportunities that come with it. Downsize with Style will guide you through an easy-to-follow 5-step process to successfully manage your downsizing project. Plus expert tips from international designers, real estate and removal specialists! You will discover: * How to overcome procrastination by working with a plan, checklists and practical tips * How to identify decorating essentials * How to achieve a stylish home without breaking the bank * How to deal with emotional topics and items * How to refine your apartment lifestyle ‘Downsizers are seeking quality and effi cient design and lifestyle opportunities. The only dilemma many face is how to “pack up” their lifelong belongings and start afresh with style and ease. Bettina Deda has come to the rescue. Her fl air for design, and her practical advice, help turn what could be a time of emotional turmoil into one which promises an exciting new beginning.’ – Petrina Smith, editor The Retiree Magazine

In America at Risk: The Crisis of Hope, Trust, and Caring, Robert Perrucci and Carolyn C. Perrucci identify the broad economic and technological changes that have led to the loss of high wage jobs, declining opportunity, and increased income and wealth inequality. These changes have altered the way that Americans think about themselves, their future, and the lives of their children and neighbors. Focusing on the erosion of trust, hope, and caring between and among Americans and their social institutions, the authors confront the challenge by proposing policies that will build hope (through jobs and wages) in order to promote greater trust of institutions and more caring for the less fortunate. Examining data from the past thirty-year period, Perrucci and Perrucci apply a critical sociological lens to view the dominant economic, political, and cultural institutions that have shaped the main social problems facing Americans. They challenge Americans to act on behalf of their individual and collective interests by becoming informed and involved in developing new solutions to improve their lives.

This book provides readers with a basic understanding of the principles that underlie real estate development. A brief historical overview and an introduction to basic principles are followed by examples from practice. Case studies focus on how cities change and respond to the economic, technological, social, and political forces that shape urban development in North America. It is important to have a framework for understanding the risks and rewards in real estate investing. In measuring return, consideration must be given to both investment appreciation and the cash flow generated over the life of a project. In addition, metrics are presented that can be useful in assessing the financial feasibility of a real estate development proposal. This book also provides an overview of the forces of supply and demand that gauge the potential market for a new project. In determining the size of “residual demand”, estimates for population growth, family formation, and new development are important. All development projects fall under the auspices of one or several jurisdictions. Though every jurisdiction has different rules and procedures, basic knowledge of the planning process is critical to the success of all development projects regardless of location. Furthermore, all projects have a legal component. Basic issues of land ownership, property rights, property transfer, and land registration are reviewed, all of which need to be considered when a property is sold or purchased. This book also provides a primary on the design and construction process. In constructing a building, a team of experts is first required to design the architectural, structural, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for a building. An overview is provided of each building system: wood, concrete, and steel. Critical to a successful real estate development, project management principles for the processes of design, bidding, and construction are explored, with close attention given to budgeting, scheduling, and resource management. Essential reading for anyone involved in the development of our built environment, this is a must-read introduction for students and professionals in architecture, urban planning, engineering or real estate seeking an approachable and broad view of real estate development and finance.