Stacey Freed

probuilder.com

Universal Design Is Design for All

Three decades after the term ‘universal design’ was coined, we still struggle with defining it. Here’s insight from builders that are forging ahead with clear ideas in mind
Talk to people in the building industry and they’ll agree that “universal design”—designing products and the built environment to be as aesthetically pleasing and as usable as possible by everyone, regardless of age, ability, or status—is “just good design.” So why is it that 30 odd years after R.L. Mace defined the term u...

HouseLogic

Kitchen Cleaning Tips | How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets | HouseLogic

Kitchen Cleaning Tips | How to Clean Kitchen Cabine...

Issuu

GREEN LIVING by STUDIO Gannett

When it comes to eco-friendly living, the options for your home are ever evolving. And new technology is making it easier for homes to be interconnected and smart, which can also make it easier to be green -- lowering energy use, saving money on energy costs and making your home comfortable, healthy and safer...

Issuu

PET GUIDE by STUDIO Gannett

Steven Siegel's 15-year old Jack Russell terrier fell ill and had to be rushed to the hospital. AFter seeing several specialists, tests determined that Pumpkin was in kidney failure. "I gave her every bit of medicine [that] science could give us," Siegel says.

Nothing worked well...

democratandchronicle.com

Rochester Magazine

The most stunning renovation in Rochester?

One-of-a-kind overhaul creates a kid-centric, California-inspired space for a well-traveled family

democratandchronicle.com

They saved a home, showcased new style, helped a cause...

Every neighborhood has them: houses that need a little TLC. And then there was this Pittsford home, in need of much more than a little TLC.
Custom-built in the early 1990s, the house was overgrown on the outside, with makeshift tarps laid onto a leaking roof. Inside, a floor-to-ceiling aviary had been the home’s central feature, but it had contributed to the interior’s deterioration—and the birds were still in the cages when it went on the market.
Pass no judgment on the owners—things happen. But it would take major vision and commitment to turn the place back into a desirable home...

netassets.org

The New Allergy-Safe Meal Plan

How are independent schools handling allergens in their dining operations to prevent tragedies, abide by the law and serve food that is both healthy and affordable?

probuilder.com

Aging in A New Age: Innovative Models for Senior Housing

“The typical age of entry into [supportive care communities] is in the early and mid-eighties,” says Chuck Harry, chief of research & analytics for the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC). “A decade from now is when we’ll really start to see the boom in that aging population. Many investors now are gearing up to identify how they want to participate in this sector.” The question, says Harry, is “What properties will be of interest to those people who are expected to be different from the current generation or the ‘silent generation’?”...

USA TODAY

Dog owners pull out all the stops to create canine spaces

According to a recent survey by Houzz.com — an online platform for design and remodeling — more than one-third of homeowners have done some pet-related remodeling in the last two years, including upgraded flooring and reconfigured room layouts....

HouseLogic

Tips for buying in an urban real estate market

The braggable joys of a primo location. The convenience of being able to walk to get your soy latte or see that indie film from the Czech Republic. The frustration of multiple bids. The cost. Buying in the city comes with its own set of opportunities and challenges. But you’ll be prepared if you know a few things...

democratandchronicle.com

Downtown lofts in Rochester offer pop culture feel

Loft living is booming in downtown Rochester, especially among millennials and baby boomers, particularly empty nesters.
Every related project that opened its doors in the last five years quickly filled up, and the vacancy rates are low....

democratandchronicle.com

Deaf jazz musician Jon Seiger plays for his life

It’s a Thursday evening at Wegmans on Calkins Road in Henrietta, and music is playing.
In the back corner of the Market Café, a band plays “West End Blues,” the Louis Armstrong classic. The frontman blows a trumpet while running his fingers along a keyboard; he’s backed by a drummer and a bass player. Couples twirl on what has become a dance floor, and a large crowd has gathered. The listeners show their appreciation with applause....

Remodeling Magazine

Back to the Classics on Home Exteriors

Ask designers what drives exterior home color trends and the answers include a combination of things: a home’s architectural style, its existing materials, locale, and of course the homeowner’s desires. Right now, says Amy Wax, an architectural color expert in Montclair, N.J., homeowners are feeling “confident and secure about their homes and are willing to take traditional colors and push them a step further.” The most requested color? Gray.

HouseLogic

HouseLogic: Storage Solutions for Small Spaces

Sweaters in the oven. Shoes in the kitchen cabinets. Books in the freezer. New Yorkers pay a median $3,400 a month for their tiny apartments, so they’ve learned to get mighty creative when it comes to maxing out every square foot. Although your house may be much roomier than the typical NYC studio (thank God), you can banish clutter once and for all by pledging allegiance to these six savvy strategies...

AARP

AARP: How to Get People Dancing in Public Places

Judy Miller and Goody Freed have enjoyed music and dancing for as long as they can remember.

Both widowed and in their early 80s, they met five years ago at a local senior center. He's a retired cameraman for CBS television in New York City and she's a retired homemaker. They live in suburban Rochester, New York, which it turns out is a good place for dancing...