#remodeled cape house

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Okay, this is weird. Here's a 1975 cape in Hampden, Massachusetts. It's a reasonable $299K, and looks nice, right? It has 2bds, 2ba. I love architectural salvage, and the owners spent some big bucks on it, but their decor just misses the mark and the real estate description is calling it a remodeling project.

The first thing we notice is that they bought old church salvage- there're parts of a choir loft and the organ pipes. But, why oh why, did they paint it gray?

It looks like they also purchased the façade of a beautiful antique fireplace and simply attached it to their modern brick one. Facepalm.

Above the kitchen is a loft with the choir railing from an old church. What the hell did they DO to this house? They took down walls and reconfigured it, but it doesn't make sense.

They constructed a dining area. This tacky structure is in front of a gorgeous fireplace. I hate this house.

The kitchen's big, but so dated. I would have to take this dining thing out.

Here in the bath, they sprung for nice wainscoting and a beautiful sink.

Wait. Is that wallpaper in the shower? It's already buckling on the wall on the left.

The bedrooms are large, but the floor is worn in this one. Probably have to strip the wallpaper, too.

Huge room. Must be the main bd. They put up some crown molding, hate the paint color, and a skimpy little out-of-proportion wallpaper border.

In the laundry room they have some church stained glass. It's a little snug in here.

Oh, it's the attic, b/c it's a cape house. So, they opened the wall and ceiling to make the loft and there's an organ there. Did they leave that? Looks like a sound system in the wall, too.

They list as 2bds, but this looks like a 3rd bd. Wallpaper is peeling in here, too.

Is the 2nd bath's toilet missing the lid, b/c that color is discontinued.

DIY planters on the patio.

The yard's pretty big, though. I can't believe what they did to this house.

[bmwdesignbuild]

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[chloesomeone]

Minneapolis Flat Mid-sized contemporary two-story exterior home idea

[zoison]

Exterior Wood (Los Angeles)

[natalievoncatte]

It was just a night, much like any other, when everything changed. Kara was tired- between the apartment fire and her work that day at CatCo and mopping up another alien crime ring, she’s barely slept in four days and had been skipping meals. It was a rare thing indeed when Lena was pestering Kara to eat lunch.

As soon as she reached the house, she glanced up and tilted her glasses down. Lena was in the kitchen, hard at work. A quick scan of the countertop revealed the mess she’d made putting together her homemade gyoza. As with everything in her life, when Lena decided to learn to cook, that she might pamper her girlfriend and her superhuman appetite, Lena went into it fully, taking culinary classes and equipping the remodeled kitchen of their suburban homestead with every conceivable gadget. Lena’s first change to the house was a bump-out that turned the already expansive “chef’s kitchen” into a near-commercial level culinary laboratory, and she threw herself into making dumplings with the same gusto with which she had set about solving the energy crisis, as if the freshly made potstickers awaiting the oil heating in the gas-powered commercial wok were as vital to humanity’s future as the fusion plant she was building in the desert.

Kara stopped in the entryway to the kitchen and drank Lena in, enjoying the fleeting moment before she was noticed. Hands covered in flour the elbow, Lena hunched over her cookbook, expression furrowed in deep concentration. She’s dressed down in a baggy flannel and patterned leggings that hugged the inviting curve of her hips that cried out for Kara’s hands, and wore her hair in a simple, loose ponytail. Everything about her was soft and cozy and home, and Kara would trade a king’s feast for one taste of those soft lips.

The whole scene played out in her mind. She’s sidle up behind Lena, who’d crack a joke about Kara being dressed as the CEO, and pretend she hadn’t noticed Kara’s return. Kara would let down her hair and bury her fingers in it, then her nose to devour Lena’s scent. As soon as Kara’s lips found the curve of Lena’s jaw, dinner would be indefinitely postponed and Kara would sate her hunger in other and better ways.

Then, she heard it. Beneath Lena’s heartbeat, strong and steady and safe, was another. A tiny, racing thing, like a baby bird. Kara stood there dumbfounded for too long a beat before she understood and let out a soft cry.

Lena looked up.

“Darling? What’s wrong?”

Kara fought to keep her voice from choking but failed. “I love you.”

“Did something happen?” Lena said, turning from the counter. “Kara, what is it?”

“I love you. I’m not angry and we’re okay. I just need Alex. I’ll be right back, I promise.”

Lena nodded. “Okay.”

Kara was out the door and in her suit and flying just fast enough not to endanger Lena. They’d been trying for months for this; dozens of visits to the Fortress, tests, experiments. She knew that, eventually, it would work.

It was hitting her now. Kara landed a little too hard on Alex’s back porch and knocked on the glass.

Alex was there in an instant. “Kara? What’s wrong? Is everything…”

“Lena’s pregnant.”

Alex’s face went briefly blank. “Oh.”

“Can I come in?”

“Yeah.”

Kara stepped into the house, sat down. As she took a seat, sweeping her cape to the side, Alex poured them both glasses of seltzer water and joined her. They sat quietly for a long time.

They were both quiet for a few minutes before Alex said, “How did you find out?”

“I heard it. I don’t know if she knows.”

“Kara,” said Alex, “did you run?”

Kara looked up sharply, eyes stinging with tears. “What have I done?”

“I don’t understand.”

“We made a baby, Alex. A little person, a living being we’re bringing into the world. What have I done?”

“Kara?” Said Alex, resting her hand on Kara’s. “Slow down, okay? Breathe. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“Lena and I talked about this,” said Kara. “This life we have, being together, all the risks. We agreed to it. This little baby didn’t. She’s going to see her mom getting her head punched in on TV. What if I get sent to the Phantom Zone again? What if I die?”

“You won’t-“

“I already have,” Kara snapped, surging to her feet. “How many times, Alex? How many? What if there’s no magic grass to bring me back next time? What if I leave them alone?”

Alex stared at her, face an unreadable mask, heart racing.

Kara turned, frantic, and paced Alex’s kitchen, her eyes drawn inexorably to Esme’s drawings on the fridge, to the pictures of Alex and Kelly on the living room wall.

“So don’t,” said Alex.

“How?”

“Maybe it’s time for Supergirl to hang it up.”

Kara froze, and this time it was her own heart she heard hammering in her chest, batting against its cage of ribs as if it might break free. Her eyes found the mirror above the living room sofa and she saw herself now in the colors and crest of her house.

Her house.

“What do you mean?”

Alex stood up. “You have died three times,” she said. Clinically dead. I was there. Maybe it is time for it to stop.”

“I can’t do that to them again,” Kara agreed.

“No, but I’m not saying this for them, Kara. I’m saying it for you. You paid. Whatever debt you think you owe, you’ve paid it.”

Kara covered her mouth in her hand, biting back a sob as the tears came.

“Why should I have this, huh? Tell me why I should have it? Just because they all died and I didn’t?”

Alex stood there, stuck silent. Kara knew the hug was coming before it arrived, and melted into it. Alex gripped her firm and strong.

“I have so much to lose now,” Kara sobbed.

“No, Kara. You have so much to live for now.”

Kara’s eyes flicked open. She stared last Alex, ignoring the sting of free flowing tears. The thought of all that had come before. The sight of Krypton, crumbling in a green flash as if devoured by some great primordial dragon. Reign and Red Daughter, the darkness that has gripped her between death and Sol’s loving warmth, gifted by the soul of this Earth herself.

They were not grave markers but way stones, not portents of doom but a map. A map that led only one place.

“I have to go. Lena.”

“It’s okay,” said Alex. “Go home to your girl, Kara. Call me when you’re up for it, and maybe you can talk to Kelly, too.”

“I’d like that.”

A few minutes later, Kara came to a gentle landing on the upstairs balcony and entered through their bedroom. She could smell dinner, and a quick glance told her that Lena had finished cooking and was waiting for her downstairs with a glass of juice- not wine. Lena turned it in her fingers, her face a mask of worry. Beside her sat the potstickers in a big bowl, kept warm by a damp towel. Another look revealed a pregnancy test hidden in Lena’s shirt pocket.

Kara reached up to slip on her glasses and dissolve the suit, the stopped.

Instead, she took it off, slipping out of the suit before changing into a threadbare sweater and some joggers. Later, she would fold it, put it in a box, put it away.

Right now she slipped into the kitchen, padding silently behind Lena on bare feet, savoring the quick flutter of Lena’s heart when Kara embraced her from behind. Kara made sure to press a kiss to her cheek before deftly sliding the test from Lena’s pocket.

“You used your super senses, didn’t you?” said Lena. “That’s not fair.”

“You know what’s not fair?” said Kara. “Being the most beautiful woman in the world, and in my house no less. The audacity.”

Lena gave her a crooked smile. “Technically, this is my house.”

Kara placed a hand on Lena’s belly and spread her fingers in an wide, protective grip.

“Our house,” she whispered.

The potstickers, unfortunately, went cold.

Seeing their partner make them a meal.

[oldfarmhouse]

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞

https://www.gardenista.com/posts/house-call-justine-hand-cape-cod-remodeled-summer-cottage/

[thesimperiuscurse]

LET’S RENOVATE CHALLENGE: SUNSET VALLEY

My twist on the popular Sunset Valley remodels, in challenge form! I have always enjoyed the distinct architectural styles and thought behind the TS3 base game houses, but they definitely could be improved with a refresher for the modern times.

R U L E S

Pick a Sunset Valley house from this list. Renovate one interior or exterior space (or the entire house if you’re up for it!) sensitively with cc—while retaining as much as possible of the original charm, functional intentions, and architectural features. Post the before & afters, EA’s lot description, and your design notes! Tag some friends if you like ♡ Original post for reference.

C A P E  /  C O D

See the full reno: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

I chose “Unabridged” to renovate, my favourite house in Sunset Valley (and Max’s house from Gen 2, for old legacy readers).

2br, 2ba / 455 Sunnyside Blvd. / 40x40 / A traditional cape style house is made modern by bridging a large custom pool. Easy living on this beach front property will make you feel like you are on vacation every day of the week.

My interpretation of the description (and floor plan) was a summer house meant for a young rich couple who love to entertain. I liked how the house was built like a classic grey-shingled Cape Cod cottage, but they did a pretty shit job at the “made modern” part, especially for the drab interior which had no relationship with the exterior. There was also a lot of wasted space due to the excessive wraparound pool and fenced decks. So, my main goals were to make the outdoor spaces practical for gatherings, align the interior with the Cape Cod style, and reconnect the home with the natural landscape.

C H A N G E  /  L O G

Extended foundations to match façade + straightened out kinky walls

Reconfigured layout to add laundry (replacing second bathroom)

Removed ugly metal railings and unfinished second “level”

Replaced steel windows with white casements

Redecorated with light neutral palette, natural timbers, accents of navy blue and brass (cape cod / mid-century farmhouse style)

Replaced front entrance bridge with landscaped timber boardwalk

Downsized asphalt carpark, changed to sand

Downsized pool, replaced with landscaping for privacy and garden space

Reshaped and layered decks to become proper garden living zones connected to the pool + beach, with timber decking, outdoor kitchen, al fresco dining, firepit, lawn, outdoor shower

Planted olive trees, almond trees, coastal grasses

T A G S

@lazysunjade / @amuhav / @keibea / @moonsonnet / @itssimplythesims / @enable--llamas​ / @catharsim / @plumbobem / @ariadnew / @obscurus-noctem / @descendantdragfi / @architectural-sims​ / @hypernov-a​ + everyone who would like to try this challenge, i tag you ❤

[justasimpleton-26]

Jason and his big sister

"Why am I surprised that you're creeping in here?" Tessa Theles said, as she heard her window from the patio click open, a six-foot-four guy slipping in.

"Aw, come on, you know I barely visit as it is." he said, pulling off his red helmet as he tossed it on her loveseat.

"I know, I'm just messing with you baby bro." Tess replied, as she pulled him into a hug. It lasted for about a second when she smelled his very strong and very present body odor. "Hit the showers, dumpster nugget, you smell rank."

Jason laughed as he ruffled her black hair, but did as he was told, and Tessa pulled out her phone as she ordered delivery for Chinese takeout.

It'd been a strange 6 years since Jason had tracked her down sorting through some old records of their shared mother's information. Tessa had stayed with her father in Trenton, as her mother had moved off to Gotham with her new lover (i.e, Jason's Dad.), and then once Tessa had moved out from her Dad's house, she'd moved into her apartment and pursued an art career, with of course a lawyer degree.

She'd been 26 when a 14 year old boy clad in a cape, and orange and green suit had greeted her in this very apartment, had warned her about their mother's situation.

And though Tessa had accepted him, she would never go back to saving her mother.

Jason, or Robin as he had introduced himself, had understood, telling her his real name when he left.

It'd been a silent two years, before he decided to come back, this time as Red Hood.

Now that had scared her shitless, his silence and then gradual remembrance of the older half-sister he managed to find. Tessa had let him stay with her, though sometimes he disappeared to help someone named "Talia."

It'd been a while since he came to visit, so she wondered what he had in store this time.

"Tess, you finally listened to me and remodeled your shower!" he exclaimed, as he came back out, hair damp.

"I told you, you have your own! And, are you using the shampoo I got from my trip Cancun?!" she answered, and Jason shrugged.

"I thought it smelled really good."

Tessa rubbed her temple, and before she could scold him, her doorbell rang. She opened it, and grabbed the Chinese food that had been placed on the floor.

"So, Jay, what brings you back to Trenton?" she asked, as she handed him a sealed plate of beef lo mein and dumplings.

"I just wanted to see my favorite sister." he replied, stuffing his mouth with noodles.

Tessa let it go, eating her own portion as they ate together, her thoughts trailing to the meeting she would have to attend next Friday.

"So, there's this girl..." Jason started, as he looked at his plate, not meeting her gaze.

"And you liked her?" Tessa finished, but Jason shook his head, his blush giving him away. "Well, what about her?"

"I'm pretty sure her dad is doing something shitty. Or is up to something shitty." Jason confessed.

"And you know who her Dad is?"

"Of course, his name is Deathstroke." Jason replied.

Silence.

"Her Dad's name is Deathstroke?" Tessa asked.

"No, his name is Slade Wilson, but he goes by Deathstroke, and I'm pretty sure he's going to try to start a war with Damian's mother and father."

That caught Tessa's attention. Jason had opened up to her about his adopted family, giving her details of each family member. She felt like it worried him that she had missed out so much of his lifehood.

"Alright, tell me what happened."

An hour later...

"Damian tasered you?" Tessa said, looking at him surprised.

"He only did it as a way to distract me so he could escape to the Lazarus Tournament." Jason explained, finishing his soda.

Tessa drunk her wine slowly, ignoring Jason's open hand reaching for her glass. It didn't matter how old he was, he was still her younger brother.

"So, Damian has a twin that was made with Slade's DNA and Talia's and his name is Respawn, and Respawn happens to be the younger brother of your girlfriend Rose..." Tessa trailed off, drinking the rest of her wine down.

"You're missing the point." Jason replied, lounging on the couch. It looked quite funny because he was too tall to lay on it comfortably, his legs dangling to the side.

"What...was the point?" Tessa asked instead.

“My girlfriend wants to track down her father without caring about the potential war that will be brewed because Slade is furious about how his son was treated, and I’m pretty sure Talia is pissed that Slade killed her father because of it. So, how do I ask Rose to sit this one out?” Jason finished.

“Not possible.” Tessa replied.

“See, I was thinking that too, but maybe she’ll listen to my dear sister-“

“Jay, I love you, you’re my brother, but if she won’t listen to you, what makes you think she’ll listen to me?” Tessa asked.

“…I just don’t want her to get hurt.” Jason replied softly, staring up at the ceiling.

 “I’m pretty sure she feels the same way when you run off on your missions and don’t tell her anything for days or months.” Tessa teased.

“Okay, that is very untrue.” Jason replied.

“Really? Does she know that you’re here instead of Gotham?”

At his silence, Tessa laughed.

“You worry so much, little brother. That sounds stressful. You can only control so much.” Tess said, as she ruffled his hair.

Jason sighed, swatting at her hand half-heartedly, but giving her a relaxed grin.

“You staying over? I don’t have work until next Friday.” Tessa informed him.

“You don’t mind?”

“Of course not, you idiot. Now, let me show you these Wonder Woman joggers I found for men. I think they’ll fit you, but you’ve been bulking up a bunch.”

“I’ll make them fit me, Tess.”

[darkspine10]

GF Fanfic - Ego-Death

Tangled Roots (27,062 words) by darkspine10

Chapters: 5/7

Fandom: Gravity Falls

Rating: Mature

Note: The music which inspired this chapter was a sitar piece composed by Jim Sullivan for the Space 1999 episode, The Troubled Spirit (aired 1976). I found it quite memorable, and recommend checking it out to add to the mood.

“And through here… tada!”

Pacifica entered into a cramped room with octagonal wood-panelled walls. “Oh wow. A tiny cupboard.” It was cramped enough with the two of them, let alone if Zera had been present. She had bowed out for the night, probably impatient for Pacifica to leave so she and her wife could get back to their private evening.

After drying off from her second soak of the evening Pacifica had re-dressed, making sure that the old fur hat hadn’t suffered any permanent water damage. She continued to clutch Wendy’s hat in one hand, strangely unwilling to leave it lying around to get lost in Mabel’s home. Her jacket was still soaked through, despite its promised waterproof material. In any case the right sleeve was little more than ragged shreds. She’d been very grateful to get out of the bikini top, and since she didn’t care about appearances around Mabel, hadn’t bothered to put her bra back on.

The t-shirt above was now pleasantly dry. It was white with green around the neck and sleeves. Several varieties of trees were illustrated on the front, with their scientific nomenclature listed out beside them. It was the only good purchase from the souvenir shop of a tourist trap she’d visited with Mason as part of a circuit around all of the local attractions of Oregon beyond the Falls. The trip had been described by Mason semi-seriously as ‘checking out the competition’. He’d bought the shirt for her as a gift. ‘So he’d always be close to her heart’, he’d added with a wink. Amidst the old growth redwoods, oaks, and maples on the shirt was, obviously, Pinus Ponderosa.

For her part, Mabel hadn’t bothered to change out of her bikini, other than wrapping her towel around her shoulders as a makeshift cape. She shook her head, sending water droplets flying into Pacifica’s face. With her best attempt at a performer’s voice, Mabel wagged her finger and said, “Ah ah ah, surely by now, Paz, you realise that appearances can be deceiving. Voila!”

Tugging on on a velvet rope, Mabel caused a set of curtains arranged in a triptych to slide open. Pacifica stared aghast at a trio of tapestries depicting a familiar yellow triangle floating above scenes of unending deprivation and horror. “So you decided when decorating your new house that a critical feature, before painting the bathroom walls even, would be to erect a shrine to Bill Cipher? Have you gone completely round the bend?”

“It’s not a shrine worshipping Bill, dummy. These tapestries are just sick as hell.” Arranged on shelves beneath each of the three tapestries were an array of arcane objects. Mabel cradled a pyramidal prism in her hand but there were also scrolls and spell books, quill pens, and even a brass orrery. Mason would probably have concocted a study like this, if Pacifica had been willing to let him remodel their house, though she doubted he would have endorsed this subject matter. Mabel being the architect behind its design seemed to stretch credulity.

Pacifica knelt down to examine one of the tapestries, noticing a discolouration around the base. Some of the patterned fabric was obscured by black splotches. “Was this burned?”

Mabel guiltily returned the prism to its place in the tableau. “I kinda pulled it out of a fire. A lot of this stuff comes from Grunkle Ford’s old relic collection. Back from when he was being tricked by Bill into building the portal. After Weirdmageddon we made a big bonfire to get rid of all that nasty junk.”

“But you had your eyes on a fetching demon tapestry? Nothing you do is normal, is it?”

“That’s the way I like it.”

The other two tapestries featured illustrations that less obviously matched the dream demon, rendered in more abstract tones of red and black. One on the far right caught Pacifica’s eye. There was no top hat or arms attached to this grey triangle, and the serpent-like slitted eye was blood crimson. Beneath the ominous symbol were prostrated figures, cowering under the branches of a burnt tree and surrounded by piles of bones. “I swear I’ve seen some of these designs before.”

“That’s cause you probably have,” Mabel said, a light crimson colour rising in her cheeks. “I cribbed these two tapestries off of McGucket.”

Pacifica snapped her fingers. “Of course, they used to hang in the Northwest mansion. The southwest corridor to the drawing room if I’m not mistaken.”

“You have a good memory, probably.” Mabel shrugged. “All I know is your parents used to own them.”

Pacifica failed to stifle an involuntary shudder. The thought that her parents would willingly collaborate with such an evil presence briefly passed through her mind, before she dismissed it equally swiftly. “I wouldn’t put too much stock in it. You know what this town is like with triangles.” Over all the centuries of his involvement in mortal affairs Bill’s presence had seeped into the wider culture. Even as a kid she’d seen yellow triangles graffitied on bridges or etched into countertops. It was endemic. “I reckon this is old Modoc Indian weave-work. I’ve seen some similar patterns before. If my dad ever had anything to do with Cipher he renounced it all after what that monster did to him. I still get nightmares about that gruesome face.”

“Well that’s why we’re here. To get rid of all those pesky nightmares, anxieties, and postpartum depressive episodes!” Mabel put a hand on her friend’s shoulder, then leant in to whisper in her ear. “Between us sisters, he still freaks me out too. The worst nightmares are the ones he appears in, because-“

“You can’t tell if it's the real him or not!” Pacifica excitedly finished in shared sympathy.

Mabel looked left and right as if afraid of being eavesdropped. “Do you think the thing you’re hunting tonight is anything as bad as Mr Top Hat and Bowtie?”

Pacifica listed with her fingers. “Terrifying? Yes. Nightmare-inducing, you’d better believe it. Traumatising for life? Jury’s still out.”

“Well, it’ll be a real adventure finding out!” Pacifica couldn’t tell if Mabel was being genuinely optimistic or simply teasing. “Mind out the way.” Mabel crouched down and rolled up a woollen rug that covered almost all the floor. Pacifica only had a second to glimpse swirling calligraphy patterns. “Got this rug from Grand Bazaar in Istanbul one time I was visiting,” Mabel explained, shrugging. “What can I say, a gal likes her souvenirs.”

That much was true. Pacifica had seen the boxes Mabel filled with sentimental old junk lying around the house. Her previously transient lifestyle meant she’d made use of a lot of long term storage lockers, or otherwise hauling heaps of her stuff everywhere. At least now she had a permanent residence she’d have somewhere to leave it all while out campaigning.

Pacifica tapped a finger on the sharp point of one of the glass prisms, watching the miniature rainbow it cast. “So what’s all this in aid of? A private little side room for when you’re feeling particularly occultish on a Friday night?” She suppressed a small chuckle. “Were you on drugs when you made this?”

Mabel rolled her eyes. “Oh ha ha, go for the cheap jokes. I did something called ‘using my imagination’.”

The way her friend had snapped back at her made Pacifica wince. “Sorry, that was rude of me.”

Mabel made an easy smile and placed a palm on the menagerie of trees above Pacifica’s heart. “All is forgiven.”

Pacifica didn’t feel like she deserved to be let off the hook so easily. She’d have to work better on not being so insensitive. “I meant it Mabel. I apologise for being so crass with you and Zera tonight. I lashed out and you didn’t deserve that. I’ve just been so tensed up today. No, not just today. All month. This might be the kind of room you’d find in a serial killer cultist mansion, but there’s a consistent aesthetic to design. It has atmosphere.”

“Not bad for a college dropout,” Mabel said, winking up at her. “I am a master craftsman at anything I put my mind to.”

Pacifica smirked. “Like that ‘super secret craft project’ you’ve been working on but haven’t told anyone yet?”

Mabel whirled around in shock, her smugness immediately punctured. “Wait what, how’d you know about that?”

“All those furtive phone calls and texts over Christmas? It was hard to miss when we were all under your parents’ roof. Plus you were hardly being subtle. So what’s this one about? Art piece? Your own line of hot tubs?”

Mabel bent down beneath the triptych where sets of drawers were inset in the wall and mumbled to herself. “Great, another secret I failed to keep. You’ll find out when I’m good and ready this time, Paz.” Pacifica graciously accepted this crushing loss and watched Mabel as her outstretched finger hovered over the drawers “Let’s see, left side we got smokables, right side is the painkillers, centre bottom is… aha! The acid drawer!”

“So when I mentioned drugs I wasn’t far off?” Pacifica offered.

Mabel, oblivious, scrambled around on all fours, using a stick of chalk to draw five straight lines directly onto the wooden floorboards. The lines formed a pentagon about 25 inches across. Mabel pointed at the blank space within the lines. “Now, sit.”

“Do I have to?”

“It’s part of the ritual. You don’t just take a hit of the drug, you’ve gotta get your brain in the right state. That’s what the whole room is for, the eight sides reflect and refract mental energy. I can get you a cushion if it’s easier?”

“No, I’ll accept your cruel and unusual method of helping me.” Pacifica sat cross-legged in the pentagon, internally reflecting on Mabel’s particular spiritual leanings. When it came to religions Mabel treated them like a buffet, picking and choosing traditions and beliefs from all over the place. She thought back to Mason’s earlier words about gullibility, wondering if he’d been too harsh. When the world they lived in already contained such multitudes, what was the harm in embracing a little madness?

Mabel hurried about to pore over one of the shelves, making a great clattering when she tripped over some keepsake or another. Pacifica grinned to herself. She studied her friend’s movements. Mabel had all the grace and elegance of a controlled demolition. Somehow she’d learnt how to counteract her innate clumsiness by predicting every stumble and fall milliseconds before the fact and shifting the balance so she stayed perfectly upright. She would dance about gently on tiptoes, seeming always one instant away from collapsing to the floor but never tipping over that critical threshold. It was quite an impressive achievement, though Pacifica would baulk at describing it as balletic.

Mabel rummaged around in one of the drawers, tossing items out of the way, before producing a plastic bag full of colourful sweets. “Have some gummy koalas. You’re gonna need the energy.”

Pacifica took a handful and swallowed them down gratefully. Today had taken a lot out of her. It wasn’t just the exertion; her mind was worn out and frenzied. She hoped the rest of the night would lend her clarity, if nothing else.

Awkwardly shoving mementoes aside to make room, Mabel slapped down a round CD player of a type Pacifica hadn’t seen in nearly 25 years. Clasping a disc in one hand, her friend clumsily dropped it into the player and pressed a button with a loud click. The sound of smooth saxophone and lounge piano quietly filled the chamber. Mabel snapped her fingers at Pacifica. “Close your eyes.” Pacifica begrudgingly did as instructed. “That’s it, good. Calm your breathing, open your mind, and appreciate the contours of the chamber. I’ll be your guide for your journey on the cosmic express!”

Pacifica cracked an eye open, unable to resist a minor snort of laughter. Her sliver of view showed Mabel retrieving a hefty leather bound tome, covered in strange symbols. She craned her neck, trying to get a better look. “Is that one of the journals?”

Mabel blew on the book, sending dust swirling around in the tight confines of the room and causing Pacifica to sneeze. “No peeking. This is the Bardo Thodol: The Tibetan Book of the Dead,” Mabel said matter-of-factly. “Found it in a flea market.” It was official: Mabel Pines was the world’s biggest hoarder. “It’s the 1975 translation.”

“Wow, I can’t believe I’m putting my life into the hands of someone who can’t even read Tibetan. Lame.” She only half covered up her trepidation with a grin. “Why exactly is this book relevant?”

“It’s one of the major arcana when it comes to recreational tripping. It features Buddhist teachings on how to reach intermediate dream states, like the brink of death, sensations of rebirth, that kind of thing. Once the hippies got their hands on it they opened all new avenues of consciousness. With my help you’ll be able to ascend into a drug induced mania, where you’ll hopefully find the ape ghoul thingy.”

Pacifica took a moment to digest Mabel’s words, then gave a long breath out. “Not to cast shade, but that doesn’t sound like it will work. Getting high to catch a demon? Really, Mabel?”

Ignoring her friend’s pessimism, Mabel continued her frenzied dance around the tight space. At each of the five corners of the pentagon she set down a candle and lit each one. Pacifica felt confined, unwilling to move a muscle out of position lest she knock one of them over.

“Ritual can be a tricky thing,” Mabel said as she waved a match to put out the flame, “but believe me, it works. I’ve experienced it. If you think Gravity Falls is strange normally then you ain’t seen nothing. There’s a whole other side to this town.” She picked up the chalk and started linking the corners of the pentagon with straight, criss-crossing lines. Pretty soon Pacifica was enclosed in an even smaller floor space at the centre of a pentagram. “I’m not talking about the sub-realms like the Unicorn glade or the Crawlspace. This perception of the Falls can only be accessed by guided meditation, aided by a little boost from my good friend Lucy.”

“Who’s-”

Mabel triumphantly set a small vial down on the floor by Pacifica’s feet, inviting her to take a look. The vial was filled with a clear liquid that congealed slightly when Pacifica shook the glass container. “Trust you to have a supply handy,” she muttered.

“That’s some genuine lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD for short. Perfect for inducing otherworldly vision states and dissolution of the self. I bet that skull you’re wearing is probably infused with a trace element of something similar. Maybe something like magic mushrooms, though in a quantity that’s barely detectable. So, you ready to take your first trip?”

Pacifica swilled the chemical around experimentally. “What if I have a bad reaction? God knows my body is still flooded with hormones.”

Mabel screwed up her face. “After six months? Nah. I’ll be here in hand if you have any bad reactions, and I’ll keep the dosage nice and low for your first time, don’t worry. A couple of micrograms should do it.” Inserting a pipette she extracted a handful of drops. “It’s easy really, mixing and diluting to create my own brews.”

“Alright, calm down Walter White. Mabel Juice and Smile Dip addled your brain and you need ever stronger doses to hit the same high, huh?”

Mabel shrugged and flashed a wicked smile. She swung the pipette towards Pacifica. “Now, open wide. A drop or two on the tongue should do it.” Pacifica recoiled, keeping her mouth clammed up like when Leah refused to eat her baby food.

“I’m… not sure about this. Maybe in the morning we can search for the Unshriven again, with clearer heads.”

Mabel frowned. “It might not still be lurking around by tomorrow. You’ve gotta face it down on its home turf. The astral plane.” She made an arc with her hand. Pacifica found it silly how childish her friend could make this sound. The Unshriven was a matter of life and death. “The mindscape can be accessed by certain spells, but a raw approach can be more rewarding. It’s kinda like knitting a sweater. The warp and weft of time and space can be tamed with a little expansion of consciousness. You won’t even need to leave this room.”

“Are you sure you're not just hallucinating during these ‘spirit journeys’? That would be the more obvious explanation. You’re really trying to tell me you’ve stumbled onto a mystical sub-realm all on your own? Mason’s never mentioned anything like this. Nor your uncle Ford in all his journals.”

“They don’t know everything.” Mabel winked.

Her irreverent dismissal rankled. Corduroy had expressed similar sentiments. Pacifica could accept the locals might have some innate cultural knowledge the journals were lacking, but this was on a grander scale. An entirely new way of seeing the Falls, just a few drops of a chemical away. When she put it like that there was a certain tantalising allure to the prospect.

The journals had always been a means of cataloguing the oddities of the Falls, making sense of the insanity, boxing the phenomena into neat categories. Here was Mabel casually coming along and blowing up the entire paradigm. Pacifica refused to believe it had been an entirely futile effort. Whatever happened tonight she would venture forth and bring back a report to add to her journal, and colonise some small corner of the extremities of the strange.

“Alright. I’ll do it.” Pacifica didn’t second-judge the statement. It would be her last, definitive word. What came next would be her own choice to confront.

“Great!” Mabel said, beaming with joy, before taking on a more serious conviction. “Oh, and by the way, before we start I wanted to say sorry for another reminder about you know who.” Mabel gestured at the purloined Northwest tapestries. “If it's not too much to ask, when was the last time you spoke to them?”

Pacifica folded her arms and leant back as far as she dared without bumping into the candles. “We email from time to time. Strictly on the short end, mainly life updates. They tell me about some successful trade deal, I share baby photos of Leah. That’s about it. I haven’t spoken to them face to face since the wedding.”

Mabel blew air out from her cheeks. “Wow, eight years. Impressive streak. Puts into perspective the five years we went without seeing each other.”

“I hope I’ve been able to make up for lost time in the last three.” Making a quick judgement, Pacifica reached up and put a hand on Mabel’s arm. “Hey, before I do this… thanks for helping out tonight. I’ve been in a rough place and you didn’t hesitate to try and make it better. You know I’m being serious when I say this because I hate the word, but: we’re besties. Spouses not included.”

“Aw, Paz, that’s so sweet of you!” She leant in for a hug. Though she was still dripping wet and her skin was clammy, Pacifica accepted the warm embrace from the brunette. Setting her hands on each of Pacifica’s shoulders, Mabel guided her back into the seating position within the pentagram. “Ok, last chance to back out. I know I’ve made it my lifestyle, but I don’t want to sugarcoat it too much. This process isn’t always pleasant. It has to break you down before it can build you back up. Remember, you don’t have to do this.”

“I don’t have to do anything. There are no monsters rampaging around a city, no rare cryptids to protect. The only stakes are whether I can mend some turmoil between two families… and maybe find some peace of mind.”

Mabel softly grinned. “Those sound like big enough stakes to me, honey.”

Steeling herself, Pacifica put on the fur hat as a totem of good luck. “Look after my journal for me,” she said. “When I get it back I don’t want to see any illicit crayon scribbles.”

While Mabel avoided eye contact and checked her concoction one last time, Pacifica snuck a glance at her phone. She was mildly surprised to see it was only 2am - she felt like it should be much later. Her home screen, the background of which was a photo of Merrise holding Leah as they jointly rested on the couch at home, displayed a single notification. It was a message from Mason from an hour ago telling her was heading to bed. Pacifica once again felt the bond of trust, that Mason didn’t stay up on her account, having faith she’d overcome any challenge she set herself. She also guessed that he was probably a little anxious about where she was, even if he wasn’t admitting it. She fired across a short text saying she was alright and would be back in the morning. The instant after getting confirmation that it had been sent she received a thumbs up in return. He was watching out for her. Pacifica put the phone away, safe in the knowledge that Mason would sleep well knowing she was in no danger. No immediate danger at least.

Mabel cleared her throat and spread her arms out above her head, beginning a proclamation. “It’s time. The osprey skull will be your anchoring thread, tying you to the Unshriven so you can combat him on the astral plane. You’re all ready to go, prepared to take the plunge, embrace the strange, taste of the forbidden fruit.”

Pacifica shooed her fussy friend away. “Relax, it’s not my first cosmic dream vision.” She stuck out her tongue and waited patiently. Mabel squeezed out two tiny drops of acid. Pacifica detected a bitter taste, but otherwise couldn’t sense any stronger flavour.

“It should take a few minutes to kick in.” Mabel moved subtly over to the shrines and the CD player. She turned the volume on the muzak down. “Oh, and if you see any geometric forms don’t buy what they’re selling.”

“I won’t,” Pacifica said with a sly smile. Mabel sounded less like an anarchist and more like a kids show host.

“Now, close your eyes, relax, and expand your horizons.”

With a click, Mabel moved onto the next music track and turned the volume to max. This was nothing like the passive ambiance of the jazz. A solo sitar chord echoed off the octagonal wood panelling. Already Pacifica was unsettled. The sitar reverberated off the walls and through her bones. It wasn’t a pleasant sound, the rhythms discordant and overlapping with one another. The sitar had an artificial twang, electronically synthesised. A low hiss, the artefact of the old player, only heightened the sense of eeriness.

Very soon Pacifica was no longer aware of Mabel’s presence, fussing about around her, nor of the surrounding room. As the sitar increased in tempo she felt adrift from the normality of the simple room in the simple house. She tried in vain to focus on the feeling of the wood panels beneath her rear, but this too dissipated away like a half-remembered dream.

Now what was she supposed to do? “Mabel?” Nothing. No sound. Only the barest hint of flickering candles. Even the haunting sitar echoed as if distant. Maybe more time was needed to let the effects of the drug become noticeable. She kept her eyes resolutely sealed shut and tried to picture in her mind an image of the Unshriven. The bared tusks glinted a dull eggshell white over black fur, as dark as driving on the interstate out of the valley at night. The image quickly faded. A memory, that was all. She couldn’t actually find her target by wishing hard enough.

A blur danced at the edge of her vision, in the black space behind her eyelids. Her blood ran cold. The Unshriven was there, lingering like a bad penny in the corner of her eye. But that was ridiculous. It couldn’t be as simple as this. It was all psychedelic hokum. A drawing on the floor, some candles and low lighting, a few words of guidance. Surely she wasn’t that suggestible?

She peeked her eyelids open and gasped in rapidly surmounting horror. The walls of the room were melting away like paint dribbling off a canvas, like wax on a candle. Of Mabel there was no sign. Pressure built behind her eyes and she was unable to prevent herself falling backwards into the newly formed expanse of emptiness.

In a free fall, air rushed past her. Fragments of Mabel’s shrine went flying by, shattered glass fragments, torn threads, and broken planks of wood spinning into the abyss. Pacifica flailed out for any kind of support. She only succeeded in sending herself spinning.

Abruptly she came to a halt, suspended horizontally. She blinked and tried to understand what she was seeing. No matter how disorientated she told herself it was her own brain that was the cause, random synapses firing under the delirious effects of a potent chemical. Unless she’d already entered the so-called ‘other side’ of Gravity Falls.

Gradually the darkness resolved beneath her. She began to glide downwards, no longer in deleterious descent. Stretched out in front of her eyes was a round, grey basin. The scale put her off at first. Everything was rendered in miniature, as if viewed through a microscope. Recognition sparked in her mind when she saw a pair of dramatically split rocky outcroppings. The view was in fact her home - the valley of Gravity Falls, lit in a harsh contrasting monochrome.

She strained to make out details. The mountains around the town and the dome-shaped hill of Crash Site Omega were visible, as vast defining parts of the landscape, but the rest was a bleached blur that made her eyes water. It was like peering through the static fuzz of a television, trying to comprehend the image of a low resolution black & white video. No, not quite monochrome, she realised. The landscape below was lit up in contrast to the endless galaxy-filled sky above. She was seeing through a form of night vision.

Propelled downwards at high speed, her body swept over the treetops. She moved in graceful arcs, her motion that of a bird of prey. She stared down at the osprey amulet but saw only a pair of feathery wings on either side of her body. Part of herself accepted the transformation. If becoming an osprey was a requirement to traverse the spirit realm then who was she to argue?

Swooping past the outskirts where Mabel and Zera’s abode was found, she traced an invisible ley line through the woods. In this perception there were no modern structures, merely half-formed echoes. The town high-street was an assemblage of foundations etched in swirling purple contours. Singular eye-bats drifted in flocks, observing all that transpired.

Pacifica landed on an outcrop of bare granite, her body seamlessly returning to her basic human form, flaws and all. She tried to take a closer look around but her vision was swamped with distracting shimmers. A spotlight trained on her face would be less blinding. Stumbling forwards she left the site of the town behind almost too swiftly. Space was compressed as she was shuttled along a conveyor belt across the divots and hillocks of the valley bottom.

Dizzy, she fell against the trunk of a tree. The wood snapped and collapsed. The pallid grey bark made Pacifica throw up her palms. It was diseased, near dead. The bark oozed sickly globs of congealed fluid. Pacifica watched in stunned bewilderment as the putrescent sap drifted up into the air. The texture was akin to blood, but paler, a mix of scarlet and pink. The globules vanished up into the spiral of stars suspended in the firmament.

Pacifica’s urge to flee became overwhelming again. That was when she really became frightened. The Unshriven was right in front of her, breath hot in her face. It was even more pungent than when she’d come close to the ape in the flesh. The odour was that of repression, of paper and leather left so long that it rotted into mulch, of sticky sweat clinging to skin during every vulnerable moment, and everything that signalled death. The creature reared up on its stubby legs and roared. The skin below its neck started melting away, rolling off the torso like cooking meat, exposing bone and sinew. It had found a way to become even more abhorrent.

Pacifica’s grasp on the situation deteriorated to the point she felt faint. Her legs gave out from beneath her and she tumbled to the cold and sterile earth. Her back impacted on a soft bed of grass. She blinked twice. Bemused and pleasantly surprised to see no sign of the Unshriven, she rose unsteadily. A meadow of gently swaying tall grass, lit golden by a half-set sun, surrounded her. In one direction were vast cliffs towering over an ocean of raging tides. In the other, a castle delicately perched atop a conical mountain peak. Pacifica was at peace here in the warm breeze. She screwed her eyes shut and remembered.

This was Dimension 52. A realm so distant from her own that it hardly felt real at all, even when she’d visited in-person. That trip hadn’t been long after her body had been irrevocably altered, purged of all scars and skin marks. It was where she’d had her first realisation that life would never go back to the way it had been before. This was the world on which Leah had been conceived.

For the first time a frenzied panic overcame Pacifica. Leah was conceived in another dimension. The simple fact now terrified her. She’d never even thought about it, about what it meant for a child to develop inside her across multiple universes, where the laws of physics were malleable. There was every chance that she’d suffered acute radiation poisoning from all their hops between dimensions. What could that do to a growing embryo? For all she knew it had caused irreversible birth defects for her child.

That didn’t make sense. Leah was perfect. Her new reproductive system was freshly minted after all, and six months had shown her no indications of illness or disorder from her baby. Unless it was a fragile window of normality before the horrors came crashing down.

The light of Dimension 52’s sun winked out. Gusts of wind blew against Pacifica’s exposed arms and grass tickled her ankles, though these sensations soon disappeared as well. She shielded her eyes when a single harsh light burst into existence above her. The intensity made her stumble. She knew this place too. Not here. Anywhere but here.

Crumpling against asphalt, a great weight held her down. Spitting rain and tears obscured her sight but she couldn’t mistake the light pouring from the open window. The house she’d shared with Mason in Jersey had never been inviting. Now she dreaded the very sight of it. This was her lowest moment, when she’d convinced herself that even the ones she loved most didn’t want to be around her. When her infertility had finally become impossible to ignore and utter despair felt like the only path available.

“No, please,” she whimpered, her throat ragged. Through the haze in her mind she tried to focus on her happiest memories. Surely that would work to keep herself anchored. She pictured squid whales dancing through an ocean in the sky. Her first kiss, music thudding through her entire body, her heart beating even stronger. The gift of a yellow sweater, specially re-knitted just for her. She tried hardest to imagine her daughters wrapped in her arms. Her two baby girls were like smoke, intangible and gone from her embrace.

Her stomach gurgled uncontrollably. A yawning dread opened up before Pacifca. She knew it was about to get worse. Contractions wracked her lower body, sending spasms through her legs. Her hand gripped against her shirt and failed to stem the awful churning inside. She could feel movement below the skin of her belly as it flexed and gurgled. Fleshy lumps pressed out from within. Pacifica laid back, screaming through the unimaginable pain.

A gaping hole tore asunder between her legs. Muscles painfully forced a living creature out of her womb. It slopped on the ground, coated in internal fluids and blood, tied to her by a pale umbilical cord. Pacifica’s daughter stared up at her with bloodshot, unblinking eyes. Her daughter had no skin. Pacifica decided that screaming again was besides the point. She curled up in the foetal position, as helpless as her child.

She was paralysed in the rain, pathetic and helpless. The light in the house was switched off. Not even Mason would come from her this time. She was an infertile wreck, unfit for motherhood, let alone heroics. Everything her parents had said about her was right.

A light pierced the edge of her vision. Above her Corduroy’s judging face leered. Which Corduroy it was, the father she’d pledged to help or the daughter she’d failed to save, didn’t matter. The gaze penetrated her useless body all the same.

“Get up.” Pacifica raised her head at the voice, barely daring to believe it. “Get. Up. Pacifica.” She groped in the air for a supportive hand, dropping it down again as she was overcome with fatigue.

“I can’t… why do you think I can do this?”

“Because, whether Northwest, or Pines, or something else, you are a warrior. You struck out from your parents, your wealth, your legacy. The only person who can define who you are is staring at you in the mirror.” Corduroy offered a helping hand. “So. Get up.”

Surging with a burst of energy, Pacifica accepted the outstretched hand and climbed out of the puddle of despair. She shuddered, finding herself alone again. No helping hand, no nightmarish homunculus of her daughter. Her surroundings had been replaced by the lifeless woods once more.

She wasn’t infertile. Quite the opposite. Pacifica wasn’t sure which alternative made her more uncomfortable at the moment. She didn’t want to be reduced to this, to sinew and bone and organic processes deep inside. But then, what was this drug trip if not another physical process?

Striving for something inside herself she didn’t fully understand, Pacifica took the first step forwards, stumbling towards salvation.

[giftideasfromaycaramba]

With this first in the series Updating Classic America, Taunton focuses on bungalow houses, which were built throughout Canada and the U.S. between 1900 and 1930. Authors Connolly and Wasserman (both architects and bungalow owners) offer suggestions on how to modify the cozy bungalow. With more than 200 photos, the authors illustrate how to add onto the house, open it up, raise the roof, and do more inside and out while keeping the integrity of the original design. Featuring more than 20 houses around the country, the book explains how the bungalow-now becoming popular after having been overlooked for decades-is a solid, practical investment for many buyers, especially first-timers, who enjoy historic neighborhoods and houses that included built-ins and period detail. Photos, drawings and floor plans all show the many ways homeowners can bring out the best in their houses. Future books in the series include Capes, Colonials, and Ranches.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

The wealthy historic town of Cape May, NJ is pretty pricey and this 1890 Edwardian home, with 8bds, 9ba, is priced at $4,995,000.

Enter the sitting room thru a small foyer and beautiful original doors.

The very large room shares a space with the main stair case.

An open doorway leads into a living room.

What a lovely area. Love those doors.

They open to the dining room.

The remodeled kitchen is cute, but I don't know what they were thinking when they chose these cabinets. The faux finish looks like mid-century modern faux bamboo.

Love the antique island, but I would have to paint those cabinets solid black and change the hardware.

Beautiful stairs.

The primary bedroom has a door to the deck.

Cute pool room has a window seat and doors to the deck.

The rooftop deck is lovely.

Bath redone in crisp navy blue and white.

The bedrooms are beautiful, but that's mostly because of the magnificent antique beds and other pieces.

Roomy bath has a gorgeous antique sink cabinet.

It would be great if the furnishings came with the house, or at least the beds for the $5M price, b/c you're not paying for land, it's just a lot.

Another lovely vintage bathroom remodel.

Cute child's room with a sweet vintage en-suite.

In the basement is a large bright laundry room.

Plus a nice office.

And, this is an apt. with a cozy living room.

Very nice kitchen.

And, one bedroom.

The home is on a 5,712 sq. ft. lot located 1 block from the beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/24-Jackson-St-Cape-May-NJ-08204/248928409_zpid/

[bmwdesignbuild]

Best Cape Cod Whole House Remodeling Contractor

If you're looking for a top-notch construction company that specializes in Cape Cod Whole House Remodeling, B.M.W Builders is the perfect company for you! With your expertise and attention to detail, we have gained a reputation for creating stunning and functional living spaces that exceed all expectations. Whether you're looking to update your kitchen, revamp your bathroom, or completely renovate your entire house, B.M.W Builders has got you covered. For more information visit our website.

[inhouseconceptsrsa]

Benefits of Hiring Drywall Installers in Cape Town

Choosing the right wall materials for interior construction or renovations is essential for both practicality and visual appeal. Drywall, sometimes referred to as gypsum board, has gained popularity because of its adaptability, affordability, and simplicity of installation. However, it is crucial to work with qualified drywall installers in Cape Town to guarantee correct installation and durable results. This article will explore the benefits of collaborating with these professionals and why drywall is an excellent option for both residential and commercial spaces.

Expertise & Precision

The degree of experience that experienced drywall installers in Cape Town bring to the table is one of the main advantages of collaborating with them. Although installing drywall may appear simple, it requires accuracy and material understanding to prevent frequent problems like cracks, uneven surfaces, and improperly matched joints. For a smooth and seamless finish, a skilled installer makes sure the drywall is precisely measured, cut, and installed.

Skilled drywall installers are also aware of how Cape Town's climate may impact drywall's longevity. They ensure that the walls can endure local weather conditions, particularly moisture and humidity, by using the appropriate materials and installation processes. Improper installation can lead to drywall warping or deterioration.

Time & Cost Efficiency

In the long term, hiring qualified drywall installers in Cape Town can save money and time. It can take a while to install drywall on your own, particularly if you have never done it before. Errors that occur during installation may result in higher maintenance or replacement expenses. In contrast, experienced installers possess the necessary equipment and knowledge to finish the task quickly and with the least amount of material waste.

Additionally, because of their contacts in the business, drywall installers frequently have access to premium products at competitive pricing. This may assist in bringing down the project's overall cost. Additionally, they guarantee that the task is completed correctly the first time, reducing the need for expensive rework.

Seamless Finishing

One of the biggest benefits of using drywall installers in Cape Town is a polished finish. To obtain a faultless appearance, these professionals are skilled at appropriately applying tape, smoothing out joints, and sanding surfaces. Both function and aesthetics depend on this smooth finish, particularly if you intend to paint or hang wallpaper over the drywall.

Over time, apparent seams, bumps, or even cracks caused by improperly constructed drywall can detract from the overall appearance of your interior space. To ensure that your walls look great and stay longer, a professional installer makes sure the drywall is not only installed but also ready for the next steps in your restoration.

Conclusion

Hiring expert drywall installers in Cape Town has many advantages that go well beyond the installation process itself. These experts make sure that your drywall installation is done correctly by providing knowledge, accuracy, time and money savings, smooth finishes, and customisation possibilities. Whether you are remodelling a room, building a new house, or upgrading your workplace, spending money on expert drywall installation can improve the general condition, look, and worth of your asset. The greatest solutions for your interior design needs are provided by Cape Town drywall installers, who are knowledgeable about industry standards and local conditions.

[buildbourne]

How NDIS Builders in Melbourne Are Shaping Accessible Housing Solutions

Accessibility in housing has lengthy been a crucial element of making sure inclusive and independence for humans with disabilities. With the implementation of the NDIS Builder Melbourne, builders play a pivotal function in shaping housing solutions that meet the various needs of human beings with disabilities. This article delves into the transformation effect of NDIS on housing accessibility, explores the modern layout answers achieved via NDIS developers, examines the traumatic situations and possibilities in growing to be had housing, showcases a success case studies in Melbourne, discusses collaborations the usage of accessibility upgrades, and looks closer to destiny dispositions in NDIS housing solutions.

Introduction to NDIS Builders in Melbourne

Understanding the National Disability Insurance Scheme 

The NDIS is just like the fairy godmother of incapacity manual, granting access to tailored and flexible help for humans with disabilities in the course of Australia. It’s all about empowering people to live their great lives and giving them the pumpkin carriage of independence. 

Role of Builders in Creating Accessible Housing 

Builders in Melbourne aren’t absolutely hammer-wielding superheroes; they will be moreover the architects of exclusivity. They craft spaces that destroy down limitations and make houses dance with accessibility, ensuring that everyone can waltz via doors and tango in residing rooms without lacking a beat.

The Impact of NDIS on Housing Accessibility

Overview of NDIS Policies and Guidelines 

Think of NDIS policies and pointers due to the truth the constructing blocks of a more inclusive society. They set the diploma for available housing that isn’t just a style however a non-negotiable function of contemporary living. 

Accessible Housing for People with Disabilities 

Accessible housing isn’t pretty a remarkable deal ramps and wider doorways; it’s approximately offering keys to independence and unlocking doorways to a worldwide in which in reality anybody can go together with the go along with the flow freely and live effects. It’s the distinction among a house and a home.

Innovative Design Solutions thru NDIS Builders

Universal Design Principles in Accessible Housing 

Universal layout isn’t definitely a flowery time period; it’s the magic wand that NDIS builder’s wave to create houses that welcome everybody with open hands. It’s approximately designing regions that paintings for each age, skills, and sizes, like a one-duration-fits-all hug. 

Technological Innovations for Accessibility 

From clever domestic generation to futuristic devices, NDIS developers in Melbourne are like tech wizards sprinkling accessibility spells everywhere they circulate. They remodel homes into interactive hubs wherein lights spark off with a voice command and doors open at the faucet of a button.

Challenges and Opportunities in Building Accessible Housing

Cost Considerations and Funding Challenges 

Creating available housing isn’t all rainbows and sunshine; there are actual-international demanding conditions like grappling with fees and navigating funding hurdles. But with a pinch of creativity and a dollop of strength of mind, NDIS builders in Melbourne are turning the ones hurdles into stepping stones. 

Training and Skill Development for Builders 

Just like superheroes need their capes, developers need the proper tools and training to weave accessibility into the fabric of their paintings. With ongoing talent development and a determination to reading, NDIS developers are sprucing their superpowers to create a worldwide in which anybody feels at domestic.

Case Studies: Successful NDIS Housing Projects in Melbourne

Implementing Universal Design in a Residential Building 

Imagine a residential constructing wherein accessibility is not an afterthought but built into its DNA. Project A completed this by way of the usage of way of seamlessly integrating familiar format ideas, making areas useful for absolutely everyone, regardless of capability. From wider doorways to lever handles and step-unfastened entryways, this mission devices an excessive favoured for inclusive living. 

Retrofitting Existing Homes for Accessibility 

The challenge of remodelling present houses into handy havens, proving that with ingenuity and records, any location may be made barrier-unfastened. By installing ramps, take preserve of bars, and adjustable counter tops, those homes now offer consolation and safety to residents with diverse goals, showcasing the strength of retrofitting for inclusive.

Collaborations and Partnerships in Advancing Accessibility

Partnerships with Disability Organizations and Advocacy Groups 

In the look for additional accessible housing, partnerships with incapacity agencies and advocacy companies play a critical characteristic. By leveraging their records and insights, NDIS builders in Melbourne can tailor solutions that during truth meet the dreams of humans with disabilities, fostering a collaborative technique to growing inclusive agencies. 

Government Support and Initiatives for Accessible Housing 

With authorities assist and tasks, the landscape of to be had housing is evolving. By aligning with policies and investment mechanisms, NDIS developers can make bigger their impact and accumulate greater people in want. These collaborations pave the manner for a future wherein to be had housing is not most effective a dream however a cutting-edge-day.

Future Trends and Developments in NDIS Housing Solutions

Emerging Technologies for Enhanced Accessibility 

The future of NDIS housing solutions is intertwined with developing generation that promise to revolutionize accessibility. From clever home structures that cater to character desires to virtual truth simulations for designing inclusive areas, those upgrades are set to redefine how we method available housing in Melbourne and past. 

Sustainable and Green Building Practices in Accessible Housing 

As the sector embraces sustainability, integrating inexperienced constructing practices into to be had housing solutions becomes crucial. From electricity-green format factors to inexperienced materials, NIDS House Builder are at the leading edge of making houses that now not best sell exclusivity but additionally strive in the direction of a greener, extra sustainable future for all. By championing accessibility and embracing improvements in technology and sustainability, NDIS builders are shaping a extra inclusive future wherein every man or woman can thrive in a home that virtually meets their desires.