3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in Highbury Terrace, BATH, Somerset, BA1 6DS, BA1

Read article : 3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in Highbury Terrace, BATH, Somerset, BA1 6DS, BA1

Full description

The current vendors have made numerous improvements to the property to create a stylish home, which combines period features and a contemporary finish.

Highbury Terrace is an attractive terrace of painted Georgian properties in the heart of Camden, a popular area on the North East side of the city. Accessed via a no through road this lovely home feels tucked away, but is less than a mile from Bath city centre. Local amenities can be found on Camden Road, London Road or nearby Larkhall village. These include cafes, supermarket, public houses, deli and a number of independent shops. Bath city centre offers a wonderful array of retailers and restaurants. Communications include a direct line to London Paddington from Bath Spa station and access to the M4 is more convenient on the north side of Bath.

The hallway features Broadleaf lime washed oak flooring and leads to the spacious sitting room, a bright space enhanced by the later addition of a Victorian bay window with views to the city centre. It has stripped wood floors and period fireplace. Next door is a smart dining room with sash window to the rear. The kitchen is well designed and there is possible scope to extend this into the side return subject to correct permissions.

On the first floor the master bedroom has stunning city views and wood flooring. There are two further double bedrooms, one with a lovely period fireplace, and a bright and airy family bathroom.

The house features a plethora of period features including fireplaces, cornicing, sash windows and wood floors. There are plantation shutters to most windows. A bespoke lighting system features throughout with a range of different settings depending on mood and time of day.

Externally the pretty cottage garden has a flag stone patio, a variety of planting and lovely south facing views. There is parking to the side for more than one vehicle.
The current vendors have commissioned an impressive Bath stone garden room from the renowned Bath builder Emery. This versatile space has a high spec finish with an open plan reception area, kitchenette and a boutique hotel style wet room. It offers a variety of uses including office, studio, guest room or even AirBnB.

Entrance Lobby & Hall 
Original period front door with glazed panel above. Period style BISQUE column radiator. Solid oak flooring. Coving. Dado rails. Stained glass original feature door to entrance hall. Recessed designer lighting. Under stairs storage cupboard with flag stone flooring. Period doors to lounge, dining room and kitchen. Staircase to first floor with period barley twist spindles. Recessed LED lighting in skirting boards. Lighting control panel.
Lounge 
14'4 x 13'8
Original sash bay window to front with plantation shutters. Cornicing. Recessed designer lighting. Period style gas fireplace. Shelving and storage cupboards fitted in alcoves with hidden LED lighting. Two period style BISQUE radiators. High skirting boards. Stripped original wood flooring. Power points. Integrated home cinema network cabling. Sky TV cabling, phone and data network points. Lighting control panel.
Dining Room 
11'4 x 10'8
Sash window to rear with plantation shutter. Cornicing. Recessed lighting. Feature fireplace. Two storage cupboard with LED lighting. Period style radiator. Stripped wood flooring. Integrated ceiling speakers. Power points. Lighting control panel.
Kitchen 
9'3 x 7'9
Casement window to side. Single bowl stainless steel inset sink unit with drainer. Range of matching base and wall units with under lights, cupboards and drawers. Splash backs. Solid wood worktops. Space and plumbing for washing machine and dishwasher. Inset gas hob. Stainless steel extractor fan. Fitted electric oven. Space for fridge/freezer. Recessed lighting. Under cupboard lighting. Integrated ceiling speakers. Power points. Wall mounted radiator. Door out to rear garden. Lighting control panel.
Landing 
Recessed lighting. Painted wood flooring. Storage cupboard with light. Loft access. Original doors to all bedrooms and bathroom. Recessed LED lighting in skirting boards. Lighting control panel.
Bedroom 1 
14'5 x 10'0
Sash window with plantation shutters to front with far reaching views. Cornicing. Recessed designer lighting. Two built-in original wardrobes. Period style BISQUE radiator. Hidden period fireplace. Integrated ceiling speakers. Power points. Stripped wood flooring. Lighting control panel.
Bedroom 2 
11'4 x 10'10
Sash window with plantation shutter to rear. Recessed designer lighting. Period fireplace with in floor LED uplighting. Two built-in wardrobes with LED lighting. Period style radiator. Integrated ceiling speakers. Power points. Stripped wood flooring. Lighting control panel.
Bedroom 3 
10'9 x 5'8
Sash window with plantation shutter to front with reaching views. Recessed designer lighting. Period style radiator. Integrated ceiling speakers. Loft hatch. Power points. Stripped wood flooring. Lighting control panel. Built-in period cupboard.
Bathroom 
Casement double glazed wooden window with plantation shutters to side. Part tilled walls. Recessed LED lighting and integrated ceiling speakers. Panelled bath with electric shower over. Pedestal wash hand basin. Low level WC. Heated towel rail. Extractor fan. Loft hatch. Storage cupboard with new condensing gas boiler.
Studio/Kitchen/Office 
17'2 x 8'6
New building. Two double glazed period style windows to front. Skylight with motorized opening system. Limestone waxed flooring. Underfloor heating. Light and power points. Integrated ceiling speakers. Beach hut style architectural wall panels. Designer Floss Italian wall lights, recessed LED feature strip lighting, window and floor feature uplighting. Double glazed doors leading out to garden. Lighting control panel.
Wet Room 
New building. Automatic recessed lighting. Heated Hollywood designer mirror with lighting. Underfloor heating. Porcelanosa floor to ceiling tiles. Wall mounted eclectic shower. Glass shower screen. Limestone waxed flooring. Vanity unit wash hand basin. Low level designer WC. Built-in shelving with lighting. Recessed designer shower lighting. Integrated wet room ceiling speaker. Shaver point, toothbrush charger point.
Rear Garden 
40'0 x 22'9
Bath stone walls to sides and rear Integrated LED wall lighting and Integrated LED step lighting. Paved limestone and flag stone patio area. Garden well. Various herbs, shrubs, trees and flowers. Bath stone border walls. Bath Stone boarder walls. Original slate flower beds. A shed. Decking steps down to main house. Separate side access. Studio/Kitchen/Office. Stunning views towards South Eastern Bath.
Parking 
Parking area to the side of the property.

Planning and costing your single storey extension

Read article : Planning and costing your single storey extension

1. Decide what you need

Use our checklist to think about the features you would like to include in a main bathroom or en suite.

Your essential elements:

• Fitted bath
• Freestanding bath
• Shower bath
• Shower
• Pedestal basin
• Console basin
• Twin basins
• WC
• Bidet
• Built-in storage
• Freestanding storage
• Heated towel rail or radiator
• Waterproof television
• Built-in hi-fi
• Lighting controls
• Automated bath filler
• Underfloor heating

2. Work with professionals

You could choose a bathroom design specialist firm or employ individual contractors. ‘All of your products and features need to be considered before your installation team quotes for the renovation,’ says David Smith, senior designer at Ripples. ‘Forward planning will allow for accurate pricing and a realistic project schedule of works.’

3. Employ expert designers

A bathroom specialist can manage the entire renovation project for you. ‘The specialist company will be qualified in all aspects of the installation, including tiling, electrics and carpentry,’ says David. ‘Check whether the company has experienced tilers and plasterers, or whether it contracts this work out – an inexperienced tiler or plasterer may take three times longer. Will your installer take responsibility for all the work and oversee the quality? Check for recommendations from friends; ask for quotes before signing contracts, and don’t be afraid to request references.’

You should spend time discussing the space with your designer. ‘A site visit is imperative to take the dimensions of the room, check the direction of the floorboards, the heights of ceilings, and to measure water-pressure systems, along with observing the style of the house,’ David explains.

4. Pick individual contractors

If you have decided to employ individual contractors for your project, ask for personal recommendations, and make sure that anyone you use is accredited.

For builders, tilers, plasterers and electricians, look to trade organisations, such as the Federation of Master Builders, or government-licensed TrustMark.

You can also find local electricians through trade bodies, such as NICEIC. For electrical, heating and hot-water contractors, visit ELECSA, while NAPIT provides a list of electricians and plumbers.

5. Agree on the plans

You will need to assess the feasibility of your plans at an early stage. ‘Discuss options with your installer and bathroom designer,’ says David. ‘Loft conversions lend themselves to large, light bathrooms that make a real design statement. Often the best place is directly above your existing bathroom, as this should ensure that you can connect into the existing drainage and water supplies without requiring excessive pipework.’

6. Organise necessary permissions

You probably won’t need planning permission for a new bathroom, but if it’s part of a loft conversion, check whether this needs an approved application or falls under the permitted-development regime. If you live in a terraced or semi-detached house, the Party Wall etc Act may apply. Look at planningportal.gov.uk and check with your local authority.

Drainage and electrical works may be subject to building regulations. If you are using a room where there isn’t a bathroom now, approval will probably be needed. The floor may have to be strengthened if you are fitting a bathroom suite where there wasn’t one. A structural engineer or surveyor can create the documentation needed. A surveyor (see rics.org) can arrange agreements, or find details on planningportal.co.uk.

7. Employ specialist designers

A new bathroom may place more demands on plumbing. ‘Ensure that the boiler produces enough hot water for the shower and bath,’ says Dorian Bowen, director of design consultancy Project One. ‘For an unvented system, go for a low-pressure thermostatic mixer or install a pump.’ Also, check that your water system will cope if the new bathroom is in the loft.

8. Select fittings and features

The location and size of your bathroom will affect the choices that are available. ’With limited space, consider made-to-measure products,’ says David Smith. ‘Where there are height restrictions, use a bespoke glazing company. They will template the space and know how to provide easy entry to the shower, and so water doesn’t splash out.’

Budget

Bathroom suite and installation

The specification of the suite or individual pieces will have a big influence on your final costs, whereas plumbing costs will be much the same whether you choose a less expensive bath, basin and WC or designer fittings. However, if you are refitting an existing bathroom, remember that your final costs will also be influenced by the layout.

‘Installation prices will vary depending on whether you are simply replacing items – such as removing an old sink and bath and installing a new one in the same place – or redesigning the bathroom,’ says David.

For a bathroom with WC, basin and bath, costs range from around £4,000 to around £10,500, depending on where you source the pieces. For a shower room with WC, basin and shower cubicle, budget from around £4,500 to around £11,000, depending on where you shop, from DIY stores to high-end showrooms.

Bathroom specialist

If you’re working with a specialist bathroom company, the price should include all elements. ‘The ideal place to start any project is with a budget,’ explains Dorian Bowen. ‘A good company will then design and install to that figure.’

Planning

If you’re putting a bathroom in a loft conversion and cannot carry out work under permitted development rights, budget £172 for a householder planning application in England. When making use of your permitted development rights, a certificate of lawful development costs £86 (England). See planningportal.co.uk for other fees.

Party walls

If your bathroom is in a loft conversion and the Party Wall etc Act applies, plus you need to employ a surveyor, factor around £850 per neighbour into your budget.

Building control

If you’re converting the loft, building control fees are likely to be around £960 to £1,200 for a standard conversion. Otherwise, budget for around £300, but check with your local authority.

Heating

You may have to upgrade your boiler to meet your new bathroom’s needs. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a straightforward gas boiler replacement will cost around £2,300.

Underfloor heating

For an electric system for your new bathroom, factor in from around £14 to £22 per square metre. If your bathroom is going to include a wet underfloor heating system, the costs are likely to be from £36 to £48 per square metre.

Electrical

‘You might have to upgrade your consumer unit if you have no residual current device on your electrics,’ says Dorian. ‘An average cost would be £400 to £500.’

Decorating

‘Tiling is a huge contributor to what can go wrong in a bathroom,’ explains Dorian. ‘Factor in the correct materials over using the cheapest product. If your project is a wet room, make sure that you use the right tanking system.’

If tiling is not part of your overall project cost, allow from around £28 per square metre upwards to cover it.

The Essential, Easy Shower And Bath Upgrade For All

Read article : The Essential, Easy Shower And Bath Upgrade For All

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaining the perfect water temperature in seconds is a comfort and convenience appreciated by all when turning on showers and filling bathtubs. If your bathroom is without an exposed thermostat, you may be kept waiting, testing the water and hoping to feel your desired temperature in the next few minutes. Thanks to the new range of exposed thermostats from GROHE, the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of kitchen and bath fittings, the comfort and convenience of a perfect customized temperature is available to all. Each exposed thermostat is equipped with GROHE TurboStat® technology, which allows the water temperature to be adjusted accurately and instantly without wasting water while searching for your preferred temperature setting. 

GROHE has been perfecting their leading-edge thermostat technology since the early 1950s, and today in response to the growing need of a thermostat range that offers ideal temperature control, safety benefits and cost-effectiveness at any budget, GROHE has overhauled its range of entry-level thermostats. In doing so, they've taken the concept of a basic thermostat to a new level.

Evolution through the years

The new entry-level range is led by the Grohtherm 1000 New. First introduced back in 1995, this model has since benefited from regular improvements. The Grohtherm 1000 New is designed with advanced technology and offers optimum functionality. It is equipped with GROHE CoolTouch® technology; a newly developed insulating ring keeps the hot water away from the thermostat body, thereby preventing its surface from heating up.

The temperature control handle also features a SafeStop button, which the user needs to press in order to turn the water temperature up to more than 38 degrees Celsius. This button protects children and elderly people, in particular, from inadvertently turning up the temperature and then getting scalded. Intuitive use of the controls is also aided by the self-explanatory symbols. In addition, its volume control handle is equipped with an EcoButton, which allows users to reduce the consumption of shower water by up to 50 percent. The volume control handle of the bath thermostat features the AquadimmerEco mechanism for smooth and economical switching between bath filling and showering mode.

On the wings of fresh design ideas

"The organically flowing lines of Grohtherm 1000 New blend smoothly into any bathroom decor and coordinate perfectly with numerous GROHE shower heads and faucets," notes Cheryl Dixon, Head of Brand and Trade Marketing for GROHE America.

Complete range

Rounding out the range is Grohtherm 2000, which boasts additional features: GROHE EasyReach™ storage and XL Waterfall. GROHE CoolTouch® technology is also included. The EasyReach™ tray can be placed onto the wall rosettes, closing the gap between the thermostat and the wall. The even surface conceals the connections, making the thermostat another smart design element. The XL Waterfall is inspired by nature and the natural flow of water.  The expansive spout emerges seamlessly from the bathtub mixer and delivers a large, wide, laminar water flow, similar to a gently cascading waterfall.

Whether you're looking for a unique entry level-priced, highly functional thermostat or you'd like to take it one notch further with extras, thermostats from GROHE, complete with their wide variety of shower and bath systems, are on budget and on trend.

About GROHE

GROHE faucet and shower products are distributed in more than 180 countries and represent nearly 80 years of excellence in European design, innovation, engineering and quality.

GROHE America's headquarters are in the heart of the Flatiron district and houses the GROHE Live! Center, an interactive showroom created for inspiration and collaboration.

The GROHE Group is the world's leading provider of sanitary fittings, comprises Grohe AG, Hemer; Joyou AG, Hamburg and other subsidiaries in foreign markets. With its global GROHE brand, the GROHE Group relies on its brand values quality, technology, design and responsibility to deliver "Pure Freude an Wasser". With the JOYOU brand, the Group covers the fast growing Chinese market.

The GROHE Group was purchased by the LIXIL Group and the Development Bank of Japan in January 2014. The LIXIL Group is the global leader in the building materials and housing equipment industry. GROHE and Joyou remain independent within the LIXIL Group.

For more information and to find local showooms, please visit www.grohe.com/us or call 1-800-44-GROHE (47643). 

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150225/177761

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http://www.grohe.com/us

Home Renovation for the Golden Years

Read article : Home Renovation for the Golden Years

“I never had to use the bar until now, but I’m grateful it was already there,” he said.

More than one out of four Americans age 65 and older fall each year and one in five falls cause serious injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The city Department for the Aging said there were nearly one million adults age 65 and older living in the five boroughs of New York in 2010, but that number is expected to rise to about 1.35 million in 2030. As the city’s population ages, officials are urging homeowners and landlords to make age-in-place fixes.

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“Something as simple and cost-effective as installing a grab bar can prevent debilitating falls and literally save lives,” said Donna M. Corrado, the commissioner of the Department for the Aging.

More than 85 percent of older Americans want to stay in their current home rather than move elsewhere, a 2010 survey by AARP found.

Iraida Gonzalez, 68, is one of them. She wants to live for as long as she can in Northern Manhattan in a building that is part of the Fort George Vistas NORC, an acronym for Naturally Occurring Retirement Community.

Photo

A movable island is among the suggestions for a kitchen that is wheelchair- and walker-friendly. This kitchen was designed by Victor A. Mirontschuk and is in the Criterion in Jersey City.Credit Victor A. Mirontschuk

Ms. Gonzalez and her husband, Serafin Baldera, 73, have had numerous health problems, including temporary sight loss, diabetes, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. She used to grab the towel rack in the bathroom to help her get around. “It was scary because I knew it wasn’t the best thing to use,” she said.

Ms. Gonzalez recently received three free grab bars, a sturdy bathmat with suction cups to prevent it from moving, and some night lights, thanks to a grant secured by Isabella Geriatric Center, the nonprofit group that operates the NORC program in her building.

The organization worked with students from the Columbia University School of Nursing to conduct home assessments to identify residents at risk for falls based on their medications, medical history, level of activity and fall history. Then Charles Morano, a physical therapist and the owner of Morano Rehabilitation Home Services in Manhattan, conducted home safety assessments for the individuals found to be in danger.

Workers installed grab bars for Iris Boteler, 99, who said she had difficulty walking because of arthritis and other ailments. “You need things to support you,” said Ms. Boteler, who has lived in her building, also a part of the Fort George Vistas NORC, for about 45 years.

Depending on the items used, minor modifications can cost from several hundred to about $2,000. But if you have more money to spend, customization is key, said Barbara S. Roth, an interior designer and a founder of Camille Rossy, a design firm in Manhattan.

Photo

The aging-in-place renovations undertaken by Joyce Jed and Arnold Wendroff include an open kitchen and living area.Credit Emon Hassan for The New York Times

Ms. Roth described a client — a woman in her early 50s with multiple sclerosis — who wanted more cabinet space for her small, dated Murray Hill kitchen. But a place for a stool near the stove and counter was deemed as important as storage because it was getting harder for the woman to stand for long periods.

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Although no one likes to talk about age, health and physical disabilities, Ms. Roth said it is important to discuss these issues so an expensive renovation doesn’t become obsolete in a few years.

Because the client’s illness can lead to blurred or double vision, Ms. Roth also talked about installing extra lights and the importance of color contrast in the kitchen so the client could easily determine where the stovetop ended and the counter began. Her client chose ivory and white for the kitchen cabinets and backsplash, and black for the stove top.

“The goal was to not make the new kitchen look institutional,” she said.

For large or open kitchens, installing a movable island, either on wheels or with legs that have felt on the bottom, can be an easy addition, said Victor A. Mirontschuk, an architect and chairman of EDI International, an architectural firm with an office in Manhattan.

“Movable islands give people flexibility because you can push it out of the way,” to provide space when needed, he said, if a walker or wheelchair becomes necessary.

Photo

When renovating, Ms. Jed asked for a wide ledge around her bathtub so she can sit on it and “swing my legs over.”Credit Emon Hassan for The New York Times

Mr. Mirontschuk has designed movable islands for several multifamily developments. Although standard kitchen counters are about 36 inches in height, building an island at 34 inches or lower would also comply with regulations from the Americans With Disabilities Act, he added, because a lower counter works better for someone in a wheelchair.

Some people decide to make home modifications before the need arises.

Amy Lynn, 59, a benefits administrator for the town of New Canaan, Conn., said she had been waiting for years to redo two dated bathrooms in her raised ranch in Monroe, Conn. So when Ms. Roth advised her to shop for grab bars and a comfort-height toilet, which is about two inches higher than a regular toilet and makes the sitting-to-standing motion easier, as well as for new tiles and a sink, she was surprised.

“I just wanted new bathrooms, so I wasn’t thinking about what happens when we get older,” Ms. Lynn said. But with her knees already bothering her, the additions now “makes complete sense” and cost her only an additional few hundred dollars.

Ms. Lynn said she spent about $12,000 to renovate two bathrooms. Her master bathroom has a new shower stall with a built-in corner seat, a removable shower head and niches so shampoo bottles are kept off the floor. The other bathroom still has a tub, but the old glass door was removed and replaced with a shower curtain.

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A walk-in shower is ideal for people with leg and vision problems, since it gets harder to step in and out of a tub as you age, said Chrysanne Eichner, a senior occupational therapist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.

Photo

A pullout kitchen drawer with pegs and a removable caddy from Häfele allow easy access to dishes.Credit Dan Smith

Building industry professionals are taking note. Since the National Association of Home Builders started to offer a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist program in 2002, nearly 7,000 contractors, architects, interior designers and occupational therapists have become credentialed by attending a three-day course, according to Elizabeth Thompson, a spokeswoman for the association.

Erik Listou, a founder of the Living in Place Institute, a professional training firm, said about 200 people have taken its Certified Living in Place Professional class, which started about a year ago. The firm offers the two-day program nationwide.

“These certifications bring industry professionals, like therapists, contractors and product makers to put ideas together” to make homes safe and accessible, Mr. Listou said.

Without divulging any specific data, Moen, a manufacturer of bathroom and kitchen products, said the market for its bath safety line has expanded over the past three years, after it started offering more stylish grab bars that match other bath products.

“When you remove the stigma that bath safety isn’t attractive, it invites consumers to purchase,” said Chris Nealon, a Moen product manager.

Photo

Iris Boteler, 99, lives in a NORC, or Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, in Northern Manhattan. She recently received a gift of grab bars through a nonprofit agency.Credit Emon Hassan for The New York Times

Joyce Jed and her husband, Arnold Wendroff, both 74, are ahead of the game at their home on the parlor and second floors of their three-story rowhouse in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Ms. Jed, a horticultural therapist, said she started to weary of the many steep steps she had to climb inside her home every day. If she is bothered now, she wondered, how would it be in a few more years?

Since the couple knew they wanted to stay in their home, they decided to spend about $150,000 to fix up their ground-floor space, which over the years had primarily been used to house visiting family and friends. They chose to widen a hallway and two doors, open the back room to install an open kitchen and living area, and add windows for more light, among other things. Ms. Jed said much of her focus was on the design of a new bathroom with a walk-in shower and a wide ledge on the side of the bathtub so she could sit and “swing my legs over” to get in.

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Soon after the construction wrapped up in April, the couple’s granddaughter Alyssa Jed was accepted by the Fashion Institute of Technology as a freshman and needed a place in the city. So for now, she is enjoying living on the renovated ground floor. But her grandmother said she feels good knowing that the ground-floor apartment is in move-in condition for the day that she feels even less inclined to climb the stairs.

“It was a big undertaking, but I’m glad we did all of this while we’re spry and alert,” Ms. Jed said.

Renovations that help people’s mobility will reduce social isolation as we age, said Kimberly S. George, the executive director of Rebuilding Together NYC, a nonprofit that helps seniors and disabled low-income residents improve the accessibility of their homes.

“Ideally, you shouldn’t rely on family members or friends to help you get around the house,” she said. “You don’t want your own home to be a hazard.”

Correction: January 15, 2017

A cover article on Jan. 1 about home renovations that can help older residents stay in their homes misstated the length of a certification course offered by the National Association of Home Builders. It is a three-day course, not one-day.

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1675 S Pheasant Dr Gilbert, AZ, 85295 - Apartments for Rent

Read article : 1675 S Pheasant Dr Gilbert, AZ, 85295 - Apartments for Rent

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Duck and cover: New York's first citywide drill for the A-bomb

Read article : Duck and cover: New York's first citywide drill for the A-bomb

So far as could be officially determined, only about 100 people died when the atomic bomb fell on New York City on the morning of Thursday the 29th of November 1951. These luckless souls perished on the steps of the New York Public Library when, after they had dutifully bolted from their cabs and buses in midstreet, they found the library doors already locked up tight. "Let me in; let me in," screamed one man who appeared to be taking this exercise very seriously. But the guard inside shook his head. "This is a hell of a situation," grunted Patrolman Matthew Cerick, shepherding the flock across Fifth Ave. to the sanctuary of the Public National Bank. There they were taken in, but of course by that time they had already been vaporized.

Otherwise, New York's first air-raid drill since World War II efficiently hummed along like the finest of sewing machines. After 17 months of planning, there was now near-total order amid near-zero confusion; three minutes after 1,079 sirens began wailing at 10:33 a.m., the city was silent from Chinatown to Harlem and to the Nassau and Westchester borders. A million citizens disappeared into the subways, 35,000 into Rockefeller Center, 90,000 into the Empire State Building, 340,000 into 804 miscellaneous designated shelters, 1,500 into St. Patrick's Cathedral. Fifth Ave. was empty. Penn Station was empty. Times Square was empty. Pushcarts sat abandoned in the Garment District. You could hear the traffic lights click. You could hear the pigeons fly.

All over town, school children climbed under their desks and covered themselves with their coats. On Cortelyou Road in Brooklyn, Mrs. Harold MacKenzie stopped pouring tea for her two guests and the three of them earnestly sat down behind the living room sofa. On Central Ave. in Brooklyn, Mrs. Ernest Garitano locked her dog in the bathroom before taking cover herself.

Former Police Commissioner Arthur Wallander had gone to work on the city's Civil Defense machinery the minute U.S. ground troops landed in Korea in July 1950. Joe Stalin was going to bomb America any minute, this was simply a fact, and New York was plainly first on the list of target cities; CD Chief Wallander's enormous job included building a control center to which all commands would report, drafting and training 200,000 volunteers, organizing food depots and blood banks, drawing up evacuation routes into Ulster and Sullivan counties. In early August he asked the Board of Estimate for $20 million for medical supplies, $533,000 for air-raid sirens and $50,000 for Geiger counters. Nonessential construction stopped as the board freed up funds for Wallander, and the city did without a new police station and modern traffic lights. At the same time, Wallander banned sirens except for air-raid purposes, and police cars and ambulances all made do with their horns.

New York comes alive in Todd Webb's post-war photos

New York was going to be bombed. Nuclear hellfires were going to boil the rivers and melt the streets. Fourteen huge underground shelters were proposed, three in Manhattan, seven in Brooklyn, three in Queens, one in the Bronx, each to hold a quarter-million people. After the atomic holocaust, suggested Planning Commissioner Jerry Finkelstein, they could be used as peacetime parking garages. Unfortunately, they would take several years to build. Fortunately, there were already many miles of subway tunnels into which the people could flee, as well as many skyscrapers with thick concrete walls. Ninety havens were designated  the Equitable Building, Met Life, various courthouses  and PUBLIC SHELTER signs were affixed to them.

Eight thousand Welfare Department employees were meanwhile directed to staff 47 smaller shelters in the five boroughs; Welfare Commissioner Raymond Hilliard proudly announced in early September that his people were nearly ready to deal with things in the event, say, two A-bombs fell on Queens. "We are practically out of the planning stage now," he said. The Red Cross organized hundreds of first-aid classes. Thirty-five thousand cabbies were tapped to be ambulance drivers. The Ballantine brewery in Newark offered 1,000 trucks.

Late in September, the state Civil Defense Commission, headed by Gen. Lucius Clay, the man who had directed the Berlin Airlift, began distributing millions of free copies of a 36-page booklet called "You and the Atomic Bomb." Nuclear war was quite survivable, citizens learned, if only they took simple precautions. If indoors: "Draw curtains and blinds. . . . Get under a table and throw a cloth over your head." If outdoors: "Crouch behind a tree." After the blast: "Scrub walls to erase radioactivity." Survivors were advised to drink lots of salt water. The dangers from so-called fallout, Wallander assured the public, were "greatly exaggerated."

And so New York City waited for World War III.

According to the master plan, a three-minute cry from Wallander's commandeered sirens would mean that an atomic bomb was expected to fall in about eight minutes. A subsequent series of shorter chirps would signal the all-clear, assuming that the nuclear firestorms had not destroyed the sirens.

By June 1951, when Russia had not yet invaded the United States, Congress slashed President Harry Truman's $403 million Civil Defense budget to $31 million. Still, surveys found that one out of two Americans expected war within two years, and in New York, Arthur Wallander remained vigilant. Civilian observers were manning plane-spotting stations across the city, breathlessly calling in sightings of commercial airliners, and Wallander's volunteer units drilled regularly. In October, Russia exploded two test A-bombs. It was time, Wallander decided, for a public demonstration of preparedness.

From Daily News Jan. 1951.

On Wednesday the 14th of November  as armistice talks collapsed in Panmunjom and reports came in that 6,270 U.S. prisoners of war had been slaughtered by their barbaric Red captors  tens of thousands of emergency workers made a trial run. Sirens screamed and flares burned bright as enemy bombers struck at Third Ave. and 149th St. in the Bronx and at Myrtle and Bushwick in Brooklyn. Ambulances careened about in heavy rains. Twenty-nine ferries, barges, tugs and police boats convoyed down the East River, rescuing patients from five hospitals. Myrtle and Bushwick looked like a war zone anyway, as it happened, since the whole area was being leveled to make way for the new Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

The big show, 15 days later, made a hero out of Wallander, a man who had planned well. It seemed there was only one thing he hadn't thought of, this being horses; deliverymen fleeing their wagons had no idea what to do with their nags except just leave them standing, puzzled, in the street. The city could be proud of itself, editorialized the Daily News: "You got the impression that if New York ever should be bombed, the survivors would claw the cinders out of their hair, bury the fallen with due respect, make some wisecracks in the New York manner and set forth with cold determination to get their revenge." Old Joe Stalin, the paper mused, should only just watch out.

Another citywide nuclear drill, in December 1952, was somewhat less successful; authorities figured that about a quarter-million New Yorkers died.

As late as 1958, local and federal officials were talking about building an enormous $2.5 billion public bomb shelter 800 feet beneath Manhattan, large enough to hold 4.5 million people.

First published on September 9, 1998 as part of the "Big Town" series on old New York. Find more stories about the city's epic history here.

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Mira Element SLT EV (Exposed Valve) Thermostatic Mixer Shower Chrome 1.1656.011 « Buyaparcel

Read article : Mira Element SLT EV (Exposed Valve) Thermostatic Mixer Shower Chrome 1.1656.011 « Buyaparcel

The perfect fit no matter what the job.
This extraordinary shower comes with 4 mode shower spray with rub clean nozzle.
The maximum temperature stop feature offers you a safe showering.

Features of the Mira Element SLT EV Shower:

Stunning chrome finish.
Thermostatic control.
Supplied with ‘Lift and Twist' technology - one lever control for flow and temperature.
Approved to TMV2 - for the ultimate in comfortable showering.
Uses up to 30% less water with the eco flow function (override able).
Comes with a 5 spray 11 cm shower head with rub clean nozzles.

Mira Element SLT EV Thermostatic Mixer Valve 1.1656.011" width="300" height="202" />

Specification for the Mira Element SLT Exposed Valve Mixer:

High performance: Magni-Flo gives up to 3x more flow.

Temperature control: Thermostatic temperature stability.

Easy to service: Large, long-life filters and replaceable cartridge.

Easy to fit: Quickly and easily fits onto reversed inlet supplies.

WRAS and TMV2 approved.

Works at all pressures and on all plumbing systems.

Plumbing System Compatibility:

Fully modulating combi boilers and instantaneous gas water heaters.
Gravity-fed hot and cold water supply.
Mains pressure hot and cold - unvented.
Mains pressure thermal store.

Mira Warranty

Mira Showers  guarantee products against defects in materials or workmanship from the date of purchase.

Within the guarantee period we will resolve defects, free of charge, by repairing or replacing parts or modules. To be free of charge, service work must only be undertaken by Mira Showers or our approved agents in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.

The guarantee applies solely to the original installation and to the original purchaser only.

Mira Electric Showers

2 Year Guarantee

Mira Mixer Showers

3 or 5 Year Guarantees - Please Check your specific product as this does vary depending on the type of mixer shower

Mira Power Showers

1 Year Guarantee

Mira Shower Pumps

3 or 5 Year Guarantees - Please Check your specific product as this does vary depending on the type of pump

Should you have a problem with your Mira product in the above time frames then please leave it installed and contact Mira on 0844 571 5000.

Delivery Details

Buyaparcel offer delivery throughout the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and other Islands of the UK. In addition we can now also deliver through Europe.

UK Delivery Prices

£2.95 - Royal Mail Second Class (2-5 Days Approx - selected products only)
£3.95 - Standard UK Delivery (2-3 Days Approx)
£5.95 - Next Day UK Delivery (Orders placed before 4pm Monday - Friday)
£5.95 - Saturday Delivery (Orders placed before 4pm Friday)
£36.00 - Pallet Delivery (2-3 Days Approx - selected products only)

International Delivery Prices

In addition we now deliver through Europe on a 48 Hour Delivery Service as Standard

Zone 1 – £9.99
Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Netherlands, Rep Ireland.

Zone 2- £14.99
Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary.

Zone 3 – £19.99
Estonia, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Latvia.

Zone 4 – £29.99
Bulgaria, Finland, Romania.

Zone 5 – £49.99
Bosnia, Croatia, Switzerland.

Zone 6 – £59.99
Norway, Serbia, Iceland.

Choose a Delivery Date to Suit You

You also now have the facility to choose a day you wish to have your order delivered on if your order is being delivered via courier or pallet. This can be done at the checkout stage where you will be shown a calendar if you select the book in option. You will have the option of booking in your delivery for a day that is convenient for you. Should you require the order the following day please select the next day option.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is My Item Available for Next Day Delivery?

If your item is stocked in our immediate picking location it will available for you to choose a next day delivery. This will be highlighted by a green tick and a 1 day dispatch time on the item information.

 

 

 

You will have the option to choose this service if you are purchasing your item for delivery to mainland UK.

What courier will my item be delivered with?

If your item is being delivered in the UK or Ireland, it will be delivered by UK Mail or Royal Mail, with the exception of pallet items. The courier type is displayed on each item but will be confirmed at the checkout stage when you have completed your shopping.

If you are an international customer, your goods will initially be sent via UK Mail, and then exported to either Eurodis or DHL. The appropriate tracking can be provided when necessary.

Details of each courier service we offer are detailed in our Delivery Guide.

How do I track my delivery?

To track your order online, go to 'Your Account' and click on 'Purchase History' for an update on your order.

Our team work extremely hard to get your parcels to your door in the shortest possible time but please note that we recommend you do not book a plumber etc until you have received and checked your goods.

Please note:

• Delivery addresses cannot be changed once the order is placed except in the case of an error, which we will do our best to change, but orders are often shipped quickly after being processed.
• The couriers we use do not deliver to PO boxes or building sites.

Making a bathroom safer - SFGate

Read article : Making a bathroom safer - SFGate

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Kohler's Precedence tub has a hinged door that allows a bather to enter without having to climb in.

Kohler's Precedence tub has a hinged door that allows a bather to enter without having to climb in.

Making a bathroom safer

Back to Gallery

Designer Ana Powers learned about bathroom safety the hard way. She fell down three years ago while taking a shower. Ever since, she has been advising clients at her business, the Plumbing Studio in Palo Alto, to include grab bars -- and more -- whenever she is hired to help in a bathroom design.

Powers, who considers herself "a moderately fit person," is often amused by people who resist the idea of a safe bathroom by saying "we're not there yet." She was 36 when she had her accident. "I was lucky," she says, "only sore bones and bruises."

Statistics show that most people, especially the elderly, who fall in their bathrooms and end up as patients in emergency rooms have suffered a fracture, a concussion or worse. Considering that there is a growing population of at- risk seniors as well as aging baby boomers, it is no wonder that bathroom safety is taken seriously.

It is easier to plan the "perfect" safe and functional bath for elders when building a new home or undertaking a "to the studs" remodel. A construction plan might begin with preparations for such elements as grab bars, a curbless shower and the like by strengthening the walls and sloping the floor before applying the finishing materials.

Even if you don't want to install certain safety features today, the room would be ready for a later time. It would be best to start with making the doorway into the bathroom at least 32 inches wide. Plan for enough interior floor space for a wheelchair or walker.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) in Hackettstown, N.J., an organization of builders, designers and manufacturers, promotes 41 guidelines for bathroom planning. One of the NKBA's space-planning recommendations is to try to create an open circular space about 60 inches in diameter. If that's not possible -- by San Francisco standards that much space is a real luxury -- the NKBA gives dimensions for clearances in and around the fixtures that are typically more generous than most building codes.

Often, inches can be added to a new bathroom, or better yet -- feet -- by borrowing space from an adjacent bedroom, closet, hallway -- or, in the case of a more extensive remodel, by punching out an exterior wall.

Also in doing your space, you will have to decide if you have room for a separate shower and a tub -- or do you even want both. If there are two or more bathrooms in your house, it might make better sense to furnish one with a shower only. Make it generous in size, with a bench, a hand shower and either a steam unit or body sprays that direct jets of water to neck, shoulders, hips,

knees, perfect for soothing arthritic joints.

A dream shower, for sure, but it would be costly. For a more practical approach, at least include a hand shower. This device allows you to conveniently take a shower while seated or to direct warm water to certain parts of an aching body. Grohe and Hansgrohe make good ones that either can be detached from an adjustable shower bar or can be installed as an accessory to a fixed showerhead.

Another wise approach to shower design is to locate the control valve on the opposite wall of the shower head for better regulation of water flow and temperature. On that subject, hot water is another health hazard, particularly for seniors. For scald protection, install a thermostatic value that presets water temperature to a maximum level.

If there is a tub in your plan, consider a deck-mounted installation where the tub unit has a constructed platform. A well-thought-out design has enough room for the bather to rest comfortably before rotating the legs over and into the tub. Be sure the deck is wide enough and the tub does not have a high lip.

Optional tub features are headrests, integral grab bars and interior lighting If you should decide to include a Jacuzzi or some other therapy system. You can specify the exact location of the jets to ensure the fullest benefit.

Another popular hydrotherapy system is the Ultra Thermo-masseur. Developed by Canadian Roger Carrier, all Ultra styles come equipped with numerous air jets that create a gentle, bubbly motion in the water, claimed by the inventor,

to enhance circulation, relax joints and reduce stress.

Kohler, a giant in the bath industry, offers a tub equipped with a hinged door for easy access. The Precedence is 60 inches long, 32 inches wide and 24 inches high. It comes with a folding seat, a whirlpool and a guarantee not to leak. All this for around $6,000. A higher tub has been proved easier to use, so is a higher toilet.

Any toilet labeled ADA compliant is going to have a few more inches of seat height than a typical residential toilet. An elongated model may be sleeker looking and more comfortable, but if this style takes up needed floor space, opt for the smaller, rounded version. There are also now a number of toilets on the market with integral bidets -- an ideal solution if a daily bath in a tub or shower is difficult. Toto and Nais are two popular companies that sell such a toilet-bidet combination, some models with heated seats.

Lavatories too are being installed higher for ease of use. If you go with a pedestal type, you probably will be in a range of 33 to 34 inches high. However, a lav within a custom-built cabinet could be at any height -- that would be the same for a wall-hung lav, provided that blocking was built in to support the extra weight.

Often, people tend to use the bathroom countertop or lavatory for support. If a lavatory basin is higher, people of average height, particularly men, have an easier time brushing teeth and washing hands. If, however, you do your ablutions in a wheelchair, the lav would probably be installed lower.

Consider offsetting the faucet and handles to the side of the basin rather than centered behind the rim. Also check out the many choices in lever handles -- either widespread or single control. Aim for lever handles on everything including door hardware. These are the best because you don't need to firmly grasp in order to complete a task. Before selecting hardware for bathroom cabinetry, go to a showroom and fit your hand into the pull or try the knob. Most people find the wire pull style the easiest to use.

Since arthritis in the hands (and knees) is the common complaint among the 40-something set, making the bathroom user friendly may come down to such a small detail as the light switch. A rocker type helps a lot.

As for surface materials, you want to have flooring and walls that help, not hinder. A level threshold is important. Larger field tiles on the floor, 16 by 16 inches, make for fewer grout lines for stumble prevention. While small mosaic tiles, 2 by 2 inches, in the shower make for more grout lines for stumble prevention. Oftentimes, the same rule does not work.

Lighting plays a big part in designing for seniors, since aging eyes see colors differently and glare is more of a problem. Avoid dark, high-gloss colors on walls and countertops. Stay in the muted palette overall, with a minimum of mirrors and shiny countertops that tend to reflect and "bounce" light, sometimes, confusing an older person. The best lighting at the lav/sink area is either a recessed downlight in the ceiling or a fixture mounted on the wall above the mirror. In both applications there should also be side lighting on the left and right. According to code, the first switch in a bathroom must operate a fluorescent fixture. It's possible to meet this requirement with a sealed fluorescent approved for shower use.

It's a good idea to include a light in the shower. Many fluorescent fixtures now on the market have been upgraded in style and in color rendering, eliminating the "cool" blues--not pleasant or comfortable for anyone.

When considering color, you don't have to restrict yourself to basic beige. There is a trend among designers to outline the perimeter of bathrooms with a line of tile or stone in a contrasting color. This helps locate fixtures easily, especially at night. A bright or dark accent around a doorway or shower is another aid for anyone with declining vision.

The looks of a bathroom concerns Julie Grant who specializes in the design of health care facilities at Warner Design Associates in San Carlos. Over the years, she has taken it upon herself to keep on the watch for new products, both commercial and residential, that are aesthetically pleasing, affordable and adaptable for an aging population.

Inside a trio of super-swanky agencies (complete with a basketball court) at the CBC broadcast centre

Read article : Inside a trio of super-swanky agencies (complete with a basketball court) at the CBC broadcast centre

Inside a trio of super-swanky agencies (complete with a basketball court) at the CBC broadcast centre

What: The Toronto offices for ad agency Bensimon Byrne, PR agency Narrative and digital and design shop OneMethod
Where: Two floors of a CBC-owned building at John and Wellington
How big: 45,000 square feet for 200 employees After two years of renovations, Bensimon Byrne finally moved its three divisions into a mammoth concrete structure owned by the CBC. Dundas West architecture firm Lebel and Bouliane and interior design shop Mazen Studio were tasked with transforming an interconnected web of dreary hallways, two-metre-thick concrete walls and steel-suspended sound studios into a dreamy open-concept workplace. They ended up using the grand, brutalist bones of the structure as inspiration, and opened up the space by knocking down unnecessary walls, lowering some floors and raising the ceilings. Aside from a few shared services like a print shop and finance department, each division has its own distinct vibe. All three departments share a street-facing entrance marked by a neutral reception area. The team replaced a cinderblock wall with windows and suspended an industrial staircase leading to the upper floor. The custom reception desk was crafted from three kinds of stone (white arabescato carrara marble, black nero marquina and taupe eramosa):
  Staff and guests are ushered into the the Bensimon Byrne space with the “Mad Bar,” a nod to a favourite watering hole near Bensimon Byrne’s old location:
  Unlike the CBC’s former setup, which had private offices lining the perimeter of the building, all window space is democratic, and there are only six offices in the entire complex. Mazen Studio hunted down a mix of vintage and new furniture for a lived-in, homey vibe:
  The office pathway leads to a former recording studio now known as the “agora”. “It had these crazy dark hallways—we didn’t get a sense of the scale until we removed everything,” says architect Luc Bouliane. Now, it holds the office’s main kitchen, walnut picnic tables and bleacher seating. It’s where monthly town halls occur, and a projector turns one wall into a giant screen perfect for watching baseball games:
  Naturally, there’s beer on tap:
  Dogs, like Chunky here, are always welcome. The Narrative space, adjacent to the Bensimon area, stands out with its slightly lighter carpets. Music is a big part of their culture, and the space was filled with loud rap when we visited. Back here are also renovated showers, bathrooms and a studio that will soon function as a wellness centre:
  The spaceship-shaped conference room (dubbed the “control room”) has blue velvet couches and Eames chairs. They removed a layer of glass on the doors, but even so, the space is completely sound-proof:
  Staff only moved into the OneMethod office, dubbed the “MethLab,” in April. The place is filled with lots of large tables, which are used for more creative projects. The team also added mezzanines to carve up the space and add a few quieter work areas:
  Behind the entrance is a boutique, which showcases the brand’s line of athleisure wear, OneMeth Goods. (The agency is also behind taco joint La Carnita.) They made all their own signage:
  There’s a bigger bar down here, with its own side entrance for parties (which occur frequently):
  Here’s the cozy lounge off the bar, which can be separated from the main office with retractable doors. Up the stairs is a DJ booth:
  Here’s the main office area. They wanted to keep the look industrial and unfinished:
  Meetings are often held in shipping container–like boxes. This one is decorated with an abstract jumble of letters that make up their logo:
  They also have their own kitchen:
  And a swanky, client-approved meeting room, with orange Saarinen chairs, vintage Turkish rugs and a bespoke walnut table crafted by Mazen Studio:
  There’s a basketball court, too. (Those doors there open to a massive elevator that can easily fit a truck.):

Half-Ton Fun

Read article : Half-Ton Fun

Laredo Super Lite 289SRE" />

High fuel prices and the skyscraping cost of ³/₄– and 1-ton pickups have created a growing demand for lightweight, easier-to-tow RVs. But not everyone wants a little trailer, which has led many RV builders to focus on smaller and lightweight fifth-wheels now more than ever. And the consumer stands to benefit from that trend. However, while many half-ton towable fifth-wheels might be smaller, that doesn’t mean they aren’t spacious and filled with great features; many offer niceties such as solid-surface countertops, leveling jacks and electric awnings. And almost every brand has a fifth-wheel designed for half-ton pickups that offers a slideout to expand the living space. Some even have two or three.

Keystone’s Laredo Super Lite fifth-wheel line is a perfect example. The series tops out at 31 feet in length with a dry weight of 7,735 pounds, yet is available in two double-slide floorplans. ‘‘These fifth-wheels are extremely well-equipped, attractive, offer great value and, of course, are towable by properly equipped half-ton trucks,’’ explains Jim Mac, Keystone’s communications manager.

Having made a name for itself in the travel trailer and truck camper markets, Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles entered the fifth-wheel segment for the 2013 model year with the Mercury, an aluminum-and-composite fiver that will initially feature two 24-foot floorplans with dry weights of less than 4,500 pounds. ‘‘We expect the Mercury to prove to be something that changes the market a little bit in the true ultralight fifth-wheel category,’’ says Livin’ Lite President Scott Tuttle.

Mark Lucas, president of Forest River’s Shasta division, says the company’s new 100-inch wide-body Phoenix fifth-wheel in lengths of 27 to 34 feet is intended to deliver more livability in a smaller RV. ‘‘It’s more cost-effective for the consumer, easier to tow and easier to park and they give up nothing,’’ Lucas said.

More and more builders are coming to market with a half-ton towable fifth-wheel that offers many of the conveniences, features and luxuries of the larger, heavier fivers. Here’s a guide
to get you started.

Axiom 

The compact Axiom lightweight fifth-wheel built by Forks RV is aimed primarily at the Australian market, but is available through select dealers in the United States. The 7¹/₂-foot-wide mid-profile Axiom is offered in four 23- to 27-foot floorplans, each with a single sofa/dinette slideout. With a dry weight of 6,500 pounds, the aluminum-and-laminated fiberglass Axiom features an aerodynamic front cap, composite cabinets, LED lighting inside and out, thermopane windows and linoleum floors in the living area with carpeting in the upper deck — which is equipped with a queen bed. Base MSRP starts at $42,000.

Forks RV, 574-825-7467, www.forksrv.com

CrossRoads 

CrossRoads RV has added a double-slideout 30-foot lightweight fifth-wheel to its 2013 Cruiser Aire lineup. The Cruiser Aire fiver, from this subsidiary of Thor Industries, has a walk-through queen-size bedroom with a 6-foot 6-inch ceiling. Five other fifth-wheel floorplans in lengths of 25 to 30 feet will also be available. The Cruiser Aire fiberglass-and-aluminum debut floorplan, with a 7,000-pound dry weight, is equipped with electric jacks, a 15,000-Btu air conditioner, 8-cubic-foot refrigerator, maple cabinets, 54-by-27-inch shower with a glass door and a midway island kitchen with a large amount of Formica countertop space. Base MSRP: $29,995.

CrossRoads RV, 855-226-7496, www.crossroadsrv.com

Escape 5.0

Made entirely of hand-laid fiberglass in a two-piece mold, the lightweight, aerodynamic Escape 5.0 from Escape Trailer weighs approximately 2,650 pounds (dry) and offers a low center of gravity for increased road stability and a 3,500-pound-capacity independent suspension axle for reduced vibration and better handling while towing. Standards such as 15-inch tires (including the spare), LED marker lights, a 10-foot Fiesta awning and dual 5-gallon LP-gas cylinders dress up the exterior of this 19-foot 6-inch fifth-wheel. Its compact kitchen still boasts a 4.3-cubic-foot three-way Dometic refrigerator, two-burner cooktop with power range hood, optional microwave and a countertop and sink roomy enough to get the job done. The fifth-wheel has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,400 pounds, making it easily towed by half-ton pickups such as a GMC Sierra or Toyota Tundra, and even by some compact pickups with appropriate trailer weight ratings and proper equipment. Base MSRP: $27,000.

Escape Trailer Industries, 855-703-1650, www.escapetrailer.com

Heartland RV

Two new rear-living-room floorplans have been added to Heartland Recreational Vehicles’ Elkridge Express fifth-wheel series for 2013. The 30-foot E27 and 31-foot E28 floorplans each have a single slideout and are among seven that the manufacturer is building for the new model year. With dry weights ranging from 7,205 to 9,250 pounds, the Elkridge Express is constructed with laminated fiberglass side walls on an aluminum frame and has an 88-degree turning angle. Features include heated storage with slam-lock doors, kingpin box covers, outside showers, Beauflor floors, solid-surface countertops, cherry cabinets with hidden hinges, 60-by-74-inch queen beds, full wardrobes, sofa air beds, porcelain toilets, dinette chairs with hidden storage and multiview TV centers. Base MSRP starts at about $24,000.

Heartland RV, 877-262-8032, www.heartlandrvs.com

Jayco

Dry weights range from 5,975 to 7,135 pounds in the Jayco Eagle HT line, with four available floorplans for 2013. Offered in 26- to 32-foot layouts, three have wardrobe slideouts to complement the living-room slide. The unusual Eagle HT 23.5RBS has a large rear bath with tub and shower to allow for more bedroom space in the upper deck. A standard Glacier Package includes an R-29 insulation value in the main floor and R-27 in the roof in addition to triple insulation in the heated-and-enclosed underbelly. Countertops are solid-
surface and cabinets have solid hardwood doors with screwed stiles. Base MSRPs begin at $30,586.

Jayco Inc., 574-825-5861, www.jayco.com 

Laredo Super Lite 289SRE" width="300" height="205" />Keystone 

With a dry weight of 7,735 pounds, the Laredo Super Lite 289SRE is equipped with a living-area slideout containing a sofa bed and booth dinette. A ‘‘Best in Class Package’’ included in all Laredo layouts includes an adjustable electric awning, LCD TV, electric rear stabilizer jacks, all-weather Glacier Package and crown molding. Standard features include a fully enclosed heated underbelly, pass-through lighted storage, residential-size cabinets, single-basin sink, two-door refrigerator, extra-wide dinette with storage below, raised-panel mortise-and-tenon cabinet doors, queen bed, wardrobe storage and entertainment center. Keystone also offers a new 31-foot 280SBH fifth-wheel floorplan with rear bunk beds for the kids in its popular Laredo Super Lite series. Base MSRPs typically equipped begin at $54,940.

Keystone RV, 866-425-4369, www.keystonerv.com

KZRV 

A tri-level rear-kitchen floorplan has been added for 2013 to the newly redesigned Durango from KZRV. The unique 37-foot double-slideout floorplan, built on a bi-level drop-frame, features a new front cap designed to allow a greater turning radius, and has a side-aisle (streetside) front bath with a porcelain toilet, large neo-angle shower and linen closet. The 331RK queen-bed floorplan — one of 12 offered in the Durango series — has a dry weight of 9,740 pounds and is equipped with 110 cubic feet of storage under the kitchen, an 8-cubic-foot refrigerator with wood insert panel, solid-surface countertops, kitchen table with four chairs, Beauflor linoleum, slam-latch baggage doors, an L-shaped sofa bed and a 32-inch LCD TV. MSRP: $49,999.

KZRV LP, 260-768-4016, www.kz-rv.com

Livin’ Lite  

Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles, known for its lightweight all-aluminum folding camping trailers and truck campers, has introduced the Mercury fifth-wheel. Livin’ Lite’s Mercury will have two 24-foot aluminum-and-composite floorplans, each equipped with a single slideout. Both are designed for half-ton pickups with GVWRs in the 3,500- to 4,500-pound range. One floorplan features double bunks in the upper bedroom,  while the second will be equipped with a queen bed. Both will have dry baths with LP-gas stoves, refrigerators and water heaters. The interior is available in a wood-look Azdell composite or champagne aluminum. Base MSRP: $26,000.

Livin’ Lite, 574-862-2228, www.livinlite.com

Northwood

Northwood Manufacturing has given its Fox Mountain lightweight fifth-wheel a facelift for 2013. The redesigned Fox Mountain now has tan side walls, an aerodynamic mocha front cap and a more contemporary interior with stainless-steel appliances. Built on a cambered chassis, the fiberglass-and-aluminum Fox Mountain is available in six 26- to 32-foot floorplans with up to three slideouts. With a dry weight of 7,500 pounds in the 28-foot double-slide model, a standard Four Seasons package includes heated-and-enclosed underbellies, R-7 insulation in the side walls and floor, and R-18 in the roof. Features include solid-surface countertops, Beauflor floors, centrally located control panels, exterior showers and electric awnings. A combination sofa/dinette with leatherlike fabric is optional. Base MSRPs begin at $32,500.

Northwood Manufacturing Inc., 800-766-6274, www.northwoodmfg.com

Shasta 

Forest River’s Shasta Recreation Vehicle division has introduced the mid-profile Shasta Phoenix wide-body fifth-wheel with a distinctive exterior and a kingpin that can be adjusted to accommodate 5¹/₂-foot-pickup beds. Available in eight floorplans with up to four slideouts, the Phoenix is 100 inches wide and available in eight 27- to 34-foot floorplans, all with 6 feet 4 inches of headroom in the upper deck bedroom. The gray hung fiberglass side wall on a six-side aluminum superstructure is connected to the root-beer-colored front cap. Bamboo rattan accents in the cabinets and on the slide fascia, along with Beauflor wood-plank floors, give the Phoenix a lighter interior. Dry weights begin at 7,400 pounds. Base MSRPs start at $30,000.

Shasta RV, 574-825-7178, www.shastarving.com

Starcraft RV

Starcraft RV is building its 2013 Starcraft Travel Star FW fifth-wheel series on its own StarMaxx drop-frame chassis to increase the storage capacity to 75 cubic feet. Floorplans offering two or three slideouts and dry weights from 7,415 to 7,915 pounds are available. A standard Arctic Package includes heated and enclosed underbellies with foil insulation in the roof and slideout rooms. Amenities include bourbon-glazed beechwood solid-wood raised-panel doors and drawers throughout, porcelain toilet, radius shower, oversized sinks, Formica countertops, storage drawers beneath the booth dinette and large windows over the dinette. An optional Galaxy Package includes a colored fiberglass front cap; power stabilizer jacks; remote control for patio awnings; slideout, porch and security lights; front and rear jacks; solid-surface countertops; and a 32-inch LED TV with DVD player. Base MSRP starts at $29,986.

Starcraft RV, 800-945-4787, www.starcraftcamping.com

Winnebago 

For those in the market for a midprofile fifth-wheel, Winnebago Towables has introduced the Winnebago Lite Five with four 28- to 34-foot floorplans, three of which are equipped with a single slideout and an optional wardrobe slide in the bedroom. With a cambered front cap, the fiberglass-and-aluminum Winnebago Lite Five, with dry weights from 6,907 to 8,953 pounds, can be towed by shortbed pickups. Features include high-gloss automotivelike gel coat exterior, fully enclosed-and-heated underbellies, 35,000-Btu furnace, high R-value insulation, patio awnings and stabilizer jacks. Amenities include a sectional sofa, island queen bed, a large bathroom with neo-angle shower, double-door refrigerators, a large amount of counter space and Bluetooth-enabled entertainment centers. Base MSRPs start at $28,993.

Winnebago Industries, Inc.,  574-825-5250, www.winnebagoind.com

Yellowstone

The Yellowstone division of Gulf Stream Coach has added a 29-foot rear-living room floorplan to its Canyon Trail XLT fifth-wheel series. The low-profile Canyon Trail XLT 25FLRW floorplan, with a dry weight of 7,297 pounds, has a single 38-inch-deep, 6-foot-2-inch tall slideout that contains a convertible sofa/dinette. Offering a large hallway closet with mirrored doors, the 25FLRW has a separate shower and bathroom, hardwood cabinet doors and drawers, laminated countertops with a solid-surface option and a queen bed with a flip-down fabric headboard with hidden storage. To accommodate shortbed pickups, the aluminum-framed vacuum-bonded side wall Canyon Trail XLT has an extended kingpin box. MSRP: $29,253.

Yellowstone RV, 800-811-0302, www.yellowstonervs.com