All articles tagged with #renovation
A Princes Hill red-brick Victorian home is renovated by BENT Architecture to replace a dark 1970s rear extension with a light-filled rear addition that opens onto the garden, preserves the original façade under a heritage overlay, reconfigures the interior into an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area, and repurposes a rear outbuilding as a studio with ensuite, while timber walls and ceilings blur the line between inside and out.
A couple renovated a dated 1990s kitchen for about $10,000 by DIY-installing IKEA cabinets and materials, taking two months and finishing with warm wood-toned cabinetry, a green backsplash, and beige hex tile. They highlight key lessons: pay for IKEA’s professional measuring service, start prep work earlier, and plan for a temporary kitchen to reduce disruption; also test grout color on a small patch before committing. Their experience shows thoughtful planning can be as crucial as materials to achieve a cohesive, affordable remodel.
Instead of demolishing a 1970s Dutch farmhouse in Zunderdorp, the architects wrapped the cottage in a blackened Accoya envelope—paired with black metal panels—to create Longhouse Farm, turning the project energy-neutral with minimal upkeep while preserving the timber roof and opening interior sightlines that frame the polder landscape.
During a routine renovation in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, Belgium, builders uncovered a stash of gold worth about 9 million euros (roughly $10.4 million), including ingots and coins. The haul was turned over to police and is now held by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen; Belgian law allows the owner to claim it within five years, otherwise the finder and owner may split the loot. The find has drawn crowds to the demolition site, and there's speculation the owner could be a local brewing family (Van Assche).
The Kennedy Center’s board voted to inscribe President Donald Trump’s name on the building and to close the venue for about two years to complete a roughly $250 million renovation, a move that could clash with a federal court order demanding the name’s removal. The plan aims to finish by summer 2028 and would address structural issues and upgrades across the building, with a faster, quieter completion than a staged approach that would cost more and take longer. Preservationists criticized the project, while a judge who previously halted the shutdown left open the possibility of reconsideration after further review.
Internal blueprints reveal the Kennedy Center renovation could cost up to $560 million—more than double the $257 million approved—with two options: a four-year phased on-site upgrade or a two-year shutdown with off-site performances; Congress would cover about 90% of either plan, but a $30 million bridge fund may be needed. The REACH space stays open, staff reductions are possible, and final plans still require federal judicial approval amid ongoing board turmoil tied to Trump-era leadership.
Draft plans for the Kennedy Center outline two major overhaul options: a four-year phased renovation estimated at about $560 million (well above the $257 million Congress approved) that would keep parts of the building in operation, and a second option to shutter the main building for two years with the National Symphony Orchestra relocated offsite. The REACH wing would stay open; upgrades would touch the Grand Foyer, Concert Hall, and other spaces, plus infrastructure fixes, a relocated box office, and a new cafe. About 90% of the approved $257 million would fund core work, with roughly $30 million more to raise; staff could be redeployed or reduced. A federal judge must review the closure plan, and it remains unclear how Trump’s imprint would appear in the final design.
A New York Times report details President Trump’s rushed $14 million Reflecting Pool renovation, overseen by a Bedminster golf-club manager with no engineering training, using no-bid contracts with firms tied to Trump. The project, meant to be finished ahead of July 4, faced algae and peeling lining, and sparked a blame game over vandalism versus a botched installation as critics allege legal shortcuts were used to meet a tight deadline.
The $16 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool faced weather delays and botched installation, undermining prosecutors' claim that vandalism caused the damage; after Interior Department documents showed contractor flaws and a rushed timeline, charges against Olympian David Hearn and three others were dropped on July 31, 2026, as Trump criticized the decision and the project remained under scrutiny.
The Justice Department says the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation was rushed and botched, blaming weather, testing failures, and shipment delays for a flawed installation and coating, while Trump and Interior Secretary Burgum chalked damage up to vandals; the findings contrast with earlier vandalism theories, tied to a costly, expedited project that faced delays, peeling liner, algae, and a July Fourth deadline, and followed the DOJ’s filing that dropped a vandalism case associated with the site.
24-year-old Calista Hill moved into an eight-unit, recently renovated 1850 brownstone and spent weeks as the building’s first resident before her roommate arrived; with empty hallways but stunning preserved craftsmanship, she’s been testing the space before other units fill up, and she even shared the experience on TikTok.
President Trump unveiled a $22.5 billion, 10-year plan to overhaul Washington Dulles International Airport, including four new concourses, expanded terminals and retail space, a larger parking garage, and the removal of the aging 'people movers'; funding would come from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and airlines via bonds, with phased construction while the airport remains open, and United Airlines receiving a new gates/ Polaris lounge. The project aims to preserve the main terminal's historic look, with construction potentially starting in 2027 pending congressional approval. The article also notes Trump is seeking to have Penn Station and Dulles renamed after him in exchange for releasing funds.
The Portland Trail Blazers plan to attend a City Council work session on Moda Center renovations, aiming to remove a lease clause that could let the city sue if they relocate and to accelerate funding discussions as the lease runs to 2030.
Two Multnomah County commissioners proposed reducing the county’s share of the Moda Center renovation by $35 million ahead of this week’s vote.
Crews are draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool again as Trump’s renovation pushes past the July 4 deadline, with algae growth and peeling coating prompting further repairs after initial work. Trump blames vandals, but critics say the repair job was flawed. Interior Secretary Burgum says the water will be drained to clean debris from Independence Day celebrations and fix damages, with no new bids planned for the next phase. Several people have been charged for removing paint, and lawmakers are probing the project’s funding and contracts.