Best Shower Caddy

Read article : Best Shower Caddy

A shower caddy is a very useful accessory for helping to keep the bathroom neat, organized and safe. Not only do they keep items neatly organized, reducing the amount of clutter in the bathroom, but they also make the tub and shower area safer. Bathrooms are the site of many home accidents, many of which are caused by slips or falls.

By keeping the items you often use in the shower organized and within easy reach, you will create a safer bathroom environment. There are many different types of shower caddies available.

Some are designed to hang in a stationary position over the shower head, with shelves, baskets, pockets or hooks to be used to organize shower accessories. You might choose a stainless steel shower caddy, or perhaps a plastic one, based on your preferences.

One of the advantages of a plastic caddy is that they are light, and less likely to damage the fiberglass shower surround if it should happen to fall. However, as long as the caddy is secure, a stainless steel model is an excellent and extremely durable choice. Additionally, sometimes a shower caddy is in the form of shower shelves, which perhaps might even be built directly into the shower surround itself.

Some families prefer to use portable mesh shower caddies. These portable shower caddies can be convenient for families, because each family member can stock their shower caddy with the items they use most. If you have a peg rack on one wall of the bathroom, each family member can hang their stocked shower caddy on a peg, and take it with them into the shower, hanging it over the shower head or on a hook on the shower door.

This can greatly reduce bathroom clutter, and avoid the problem of having too many different items in one shower caddy. After showering, the portable shower caddy can be quickly blotted dry with a towel, and hung back on the peg rack. Portable shower caddies are also perfect for students, or when there are multiple bathroom showers within one home, since they make it convenient to transport shower supplies.

When choosing a shower caddy, it is important to keep in mind the types of supplies that you plan to store in the caddy. For instance, if you use multiple small bottles of different products, you might need shorter shelves or multiple pockets and hooks. On the other hand, if you tend to buy large family-sized products, you will want to make sure the shelves are tall enough to accommodate them.

Choosing a shower caddy can be a challenge, but if you do your research you should find the right one to suit your needs. If you have a walk in shower enclosure you may need to find a specialty caddy to fit in your shower.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

How to Repair a Broken or Scratched Apple Watch, or Get a Replacement

Read article : How to Repair a Broken or Scratched Apple Watch, or Get a Replacement

Will Apple replace my Apple Watch if it gets smashed? Or would I be able to repair the screen myself?

Just days after the wearable launched, heartbroken owners were posting images of broken Apple Watches online. Call it sod's law or bad luck, but when you wear something every day there's a decent chance it will get damaged before long. They're sturdy devices but they're not invincible.

But chin up: if your Apple Watch has got scratched, smashed or water-damaged, if its back plate has come off or any other form of damage has occurred, you've come to the right place. Whatever's gone wrong with your Apple Watch, there's hope for getting it repaired or replaced (you might even get a first-gen model replaced by a Series 1), and in this article we'll try to help you through that process.

A separate issue that some owners have complained about is poor battery life. Happily we have another article to deal with that: How to make Apple Watch battery last longer. And for issues with unresponsive rather than physically damaged Apple Watches, you should read How to fix an Apple Watch that's not working.

Read next: Best Apple Watch apps | Best Apple Watch games

Apple Watch screen damage

The Apple Watch shouldn't break easily. The glass is strengthened: in the case of the Apple Watch Sport the watch face is made from Ion-X glass, while the standard Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition feature a Sapphire crystal front - this is supposed to be the hardest glass known to man.

Sure enough, the Sapphire models seem to be coping better with the wear and tear of daily life as a high-end wearable, with slight scratching about the worst we've seen among normal usage scenarios. (That doesn't mean your Apple Watch Edition won't shatter tomorrow, of course, but the chances seem to be in your favour.) The Sports models, on the other hand, have been documented in quite a few cases as sustaining more visible damage: smashed glass and the like.

We mentioned normal usage scenarios just then, and you might be wondering what abnormal usage might look like. Well, how about the drop-tests run by TechRax on YouTube? They found that the Apple Watch "will smash if you throw it face-down at the floor". Which answers that question if you were wondering.

Should you smash your Apple Watch screen, whether or not you were hurling it at the floor at the time, it seems in principle to be fairly easy to replace the screen - very shortly after the launch iFixIt took the watch apart and found that the screen was easy to remove and replace. See below for more information about iFixIt's tests.

Mind you, it's possible that it may not be as easily scratched as some reports have suggested. In a video (embedded below) Consumer Reports was only able to scratch the Apple Watch Sport screen after some pretty extreme efforts, and the site claimed they couldn't scratch the Sapphire screen on the stainless steel Apple Watch at all.

Read next: Best tools for repairing & upgrading Macs & iPhones

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If your watch has got damaged, you may wish to jump ahead to our section How to get Apple to replace a broken Apple Watch.

Strap damage

As well as damage to the all-important watch face, the stainless steel Milanese loop strap has been cited as a possible weak link: you'll observe that it appears slightly scuffed up in the picture below. This isn't all that surprising, because stainless steel can scratch quite easily. And at least the Apple Watch's straps are easily replaceable. (See our roundup of the best Apple Watch straps for advice on that front.)

In any case, this YouTube video suggests that you can fix any scratches on the Milanese loop strap using a stainless steel polish you can pick up in a hardware store.

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Is it possible to repair it yourself?

iFixit rapidly took the Apple Watch apart to see how easy it would be to fix if anything went wrong with it, and the news was mixed. While the screen is simple to remove and replace, repairs to other component parts may be distinctly problematic.

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iFixit said: "Despite rumours (and hopes) of an upgradable product, the difficulty of removing the S1 alone casts serious doubt on the idea of simply swapping out the internals."

As for whether the Apple Watch will be upgradable in the future, iFixit says: "Stripping out the internals will be difficult and time-consuming - not the sort of thing your local Genius is equipped to handle, but we suppose Apple could provide a mail-order option."

Overall, iFixit gives the Apple Watch a repairability score of 5 out of 10, noting that at least the watch band is easily removed and swapped for a replacement; the screen can be removed (which is good news for anyone who has already smashed theirs) and the battery can also be removed quite easily.

However, iFixit notes that removing components is "essentially impossible" as they are soldered onto the back of the S1 and this "fully encased S1 system" makes board-level repairs impossible.

If your watch has got damaged and you don't feel able to repair it, you may wish to jump ahead to our section How to get Apple to replace a broken Apple Watch.

Water damage

The Apple Watch Series 2 officially has "a water resistance rating of 50 metres under ISO standard 22810:2010". It's fine to wear it in the bath or shower, and for shallow-water swimming. The company does warn, however, that "Apple Watch Series 2 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth."

The first-gen Apple Watch is a less clear-cut case. While Apple doesn't recommend submerging this device in water, many owners have discovered that it is water-resistant to a certain extent.

The original Apple Watch actually has an IPX7 rating, which means the Apple Watch can withstand up to 30 minutes of submersion in up to a metre of water.

Apple has not really promoted the Apple Watch as waterproof, which has led to some surprise that it is. This YouTube video shows that the watch can be used in a shower and swimming pool. While the watch continued to work underwater, the touch screen wasn't so responsive when wet, but that's surely to be expected.

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The waterproof element isn't surprising: even Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted to wearing his first-gen watch in the shower. Apple evidently decided not to claim that the watch is entirely waterproof, perhaps afraid of the legal wrangling that could ensue.

What to do if your Apple Watch gets water-damaged

We're working on the assumption that the Watch won't get water-damaged as long as you stick to Apple's guidelines - which essentially call for you to keep it from being immersed in water. However, given that the IPX7 rating indicates that the Watch can withstand being left in a metre of water for half an hour, getting the Watch a little bit damp shouldn't do any serious damage.

But if you do have problems with a water-damaged Apple Watch, the best thing to do would be to follow our tips for rescuing a water-damaged iPhone. Read: How to dry out, rescue and fix a water-damaged Apple iPhone.

In our tests with the iPhone we got the phone very wet and then used various methods to dry it out, from the famous 'Rice Trick' to a slightly more scientific use of gel sachets. The uncooked rice should absorb the moisture effectively but may get dust or detritus into exposed ports, whereas silica gel packets - the kind that come with some electronic components, particularly if they've been shipped from a country with a humid climate, or with handbags - do a fine job over a number of hours.

Give your Watch a few days in its pile of rice or gel sachets for a few days and then see how it fares.

If these tricks don't succeed, you may wish to jump ahead to next section How to get Apple to replace a broken Apple Watch.

Getting it repaired or replaced

If there is a genuine fault with your Apple Watch - perhaps the battery doesn't charge properly, or the screen glitches - this will be covered by the warranty and Apple will replace the watch, as long as you can prove you haven't tampered with it. Your watch will be covered by a warranty for one year. Contact Apple and they'll see you right.

Note that Apple may not replace your damaged Apple Watch with the same model - and this is actually good news. The company has announced that in some cases and some countries, its staff will replace first-gen Apple Watches with Series 1 models (not the most recent Series 2, but still a newer and more advanced device with a faster processor).

Even if the warranty has expired you may still be able to get Apple to help for free. If the back plate has separated from the body of a first-gen Apple Watch, for example - this appears to be a known potential issue with that model - then the company will repair the device free of charge up to three years after the initial purchase.

I sure hope Apple uses better glue for their cars than they do for their watches. pic.twitter.com/JkIThwC5B7

— John Gruber (@gruber)

October 3, 2016

You don't get anything for nothing, though, so ordinarily we wouldn't expect Apple to replace a damaged Apple Watch that you've dropped - just as nobody should expect Apple to replace their iPhone if they break the screen through their own carelessness. Read: Will Apple replace my iPhone?

Legal rights & precedents

What about if a scratch or crack appears and you're sure you didn't drop the watch or do anything reckless? Will Apple believe you? A recent court case offers some hope here. Mr Gareth Cross, a British man from Aberystwyth, took Apple to the small claims court after the company wouldn't replace or refund his cracked Apple Watch. (They said the damage wasn't covered under warranty.) The court found in his favour and required Apple to pay Mr Cross the cost of the watch plus court fees.

Whether you want to go through the same legal process is debatable: as Mr Cross himself acknowledged, the case became "a little stressful" and lasted six months. But it's possible that the precedent this sets will make Apple more inclined to offer refunds and repairs in future. We shall see.

AppleCare

In any case, if you're particularly clumsy, you can buy insurance from Apple that will cover your Apple Watch if it does get damaged. We discuss AppleCare in this article: Is AppleCare worth it? To see what you legal rights are read: Is Apple mis-selling AppleCare to UK?

If you decide to get AppleCare, there's an AppleCare+ plan for all the Apple Watch models. The AppleCare+ cover for the Apple Watch will cost £69 and AppleCare+ for the Apple Watch Sport costs £49. The plan will extend the watches warranty to two years and grant you up to two accidental damage claims (although if you do damage your watch you will have to pay an excess of £49 for Apple Watch Sport, and £55 for Apple Watch.

If you want Apple Care for your Apple Watch Edition it will cost £1,500, and there is a £700 excess should you damage the watch due to your own carelessness, but you might consider that small change if you've just laid out £13,500 for your posh watch.

In the US Apple also has three AppleCare+ plans that'll cover both your Watch and your iPhone, presuming your phone is less than six months old. Unfortunately those plans are not available in the UK.

You can purchase AppleCare here, but you don't have to purchase it at the same time as you buy the Watch.

Read next: Latest Apple product recalls and free repair programmes

What's New in Truck Campers

Read article : What's New in Truck Campers

It’s also an economical approach, with campers starting at under $15,000 and extending upward to $40,000 or more. At the low end, you’ll find basic sleeping accommodations. Spend more and you can get many of the luxury features that would be found in a small motorhome, with good kitchens, full bathrooms, queen-size beds and entertainment centers.

The size of the camper is necessarily limited by the size of the pickup hauling it, but there are lots of options to choose from. And with new materials enabling manufacturers to reduce the weight of their campers, it’s possible to pack more amenities inside a camper without overloading the truck.

Here is a sampling of new campers offered by leading manufacturers:

Adventurer
The Adventurer 93FDS, a 2007 floor plan available in June, will add to a wide array of camper models designed to fit everything from small imports to big one-ton trucks.

The new 93FDS has a full-wall slideout that extends the dinette and refrigerator area. The dinette converts into a bed, enabling the camper to sleep four. The bathroom is given extra spaciousness with a huge skylight.

The suggested base retail price of about $24,000 includes numerous standard features, such as solar reflective windows, a Dometic two-door refrigerator-freezer, a fiberglass shower inside, an outside shower, a slide awning, an exterior yard light, and Happijac electric remote jacks to simplify loading and unloading. The holding tanks are heated and enclosed.

Adventurer campers are lighter in weight than many competitors because of their design and construction, including an aluminum frame and fully laminated walls. The Model 93FDS has a box length of 9 feet, two inches, and an estimated dry weight of 2,850 pounds.

For information, contact Adventurer Manufacturing Ltd, 33541 Maclure Road, Abbotsford, British Columbia V2S 7W1. Phone (604) 852-5731 or visit www.amlrv.com

Alpenlite
Alpenlite made its reputation in the truck camper field by pioneering aluminum frame construction and vacuum bonded walls. That emphasis on technology continues today with features such as block foam insulation, a laminated, vacuum-bonded crowned roof and a gelcoated exterior surface.

Now in its 34th year of building truck campers, Alpenlite offers eight floor plans in a range of sizes. One of its best sellers is the top-of-the-line Santa Fe 1150, which is Alpenlite’s biggest and roomiest model.

The Santa Fe 1150 includes a full queen-size bed, a center dry bath with a tub and shower seat area, Karadon solid surface countertops, and a basement storage area. The fresh water and other fluid tanks are all large-capacity, enclosed, and insulated so that the camper can be used in all seasons. Among the options is a dinette skylight with a retractable shade.

The dinette area slides out for extra room and can be converted to a bed for an additional sleeping area. The suggested retail price on the Santa Fe 1150 is $26,592. If you don’t want a slideout, you can choose the Santa Fe 1100, which offers much the same floor plan as the 1150, and also offers the option of a dinette with a fold-away table and two Flexsteel swivel chairs.

For information on Alpenlite Limited truck campers, contact Western Recreational Vehicles, P. O. Box 9547 Yakima, WA 98909. Phone (800) 777-4133 or visit www.wrv.com.

Arctic Fox
Arctic Fox truck campers, such as the new model 990 Silver Fox edition, are durable and rugged enough to endure cross-country and off-road travel because of innovations in camper engineering.

The Silver Fox edition features an aircraft-style superstructure, transverse floor, and a full-wall slide room that is 26 inches deep. The transverse floor design increases the width of the floor inside, creating a feeling of spaciousness. By using a dual rack and pinion slide mechanism and a strong aluminum superstructure, Northwood Manufacturing builds its Arctic Fox campers so that the slideout can be extended even while people are sitting in the slideout area. Heavy-duty rollers move the slideout smoothly and quietly, while five separate seals guard against water intrusion during wet weather.

With the extra depth of its slideouts, Arctic Fox is able to offer several options. For example, in the overhead bunk option, a hinged interior panel folds down from the upper wall and ceiling of the slideout and converts into an additional bunk bed over the dinette. Another option is a lounge instead of a dinette, with an optional “roll-over” lounge that converts into an extra sleeping area. All standard dinettes also convert to beds.

The bedroom suite in the Arctic Fox features a deluxe queen-size mattress with coordinated bedspread and window valence accents. A folding wall between the main cabin and sleeping area provides privacy.

Arctic Fox campers come in three interior color schemes. The interiors include solid oak hardwood features, textured wallboards on the interior walls and Ozite finished ceilings. Vinyl floor coverings are commercial grade, and there is also a carpeting option. The company offers campers in a range of floor plans, all with full-wall slideouts. The wet bath version of the Silver Fox Model 990 carries a suggested base retail price of $23,929.

For information on Arctic Fox campers, contact Northwood Manufacturing, 59948 Downs Road, La Grande, OR 97850. Phone (541) 962-6274 or visit www.northwoodmfg.com.

Bigfoot
New for 2006 from Bigfoot Industries in British Columbia is a long box version of the short box 25C9.4 camper that was introduced last year. These models are part of the Bigfoot 2500 camper series.

The model offers a spacious layout, with an aft galley with a three-burner cooktop, stainless steel double sink, 6-cubic-foot refrigerator and dinette with face-to-face seating.

All of the models in the 2500 series are constructed from two molded fiberglass shells and insulated with 1 1/2-inch high-density polystyrene block foam insulation. The fresh and wastewater holding tanks are enclosed, insulated and heated by a 30,000 BTU high-output furnace. There is an abundance of interior storage as well a large exterior basement storage compartment. The suggested base retail price is $21,870.

Bigfoot Industries, which also builds trailers and motorhomes, is in its 28th year as an RV company. For information about Bigfoot campers and to order a brochure, contact Bigfoot Industries, 4114 Crozier Road, Armstrong, British Columbia V0E lB6. Phone (250) 546-2177 or visit www.bigfootrv.com.

Citation Supreme
Built in British Columbia by General Coach, Citation Supreme truck campers are designed for all-season comfort. The company’s Polar Pak includes such standard features as high-density foam insulation, two-inch thick vacuum bonded walls with 3/4-inch thermal break, and a fully insulated basement with tanks and valves heated directly by the furnace.

New for 2006 is the Model 1050 slideout for long box trucks. The 1050 is a 100-inch wide body design that includes a queen-size bed, a bathroom with a separate sit/stand shower, and an expansive dinette area that slides out. The bedroom has more headroom than most other campers. Options include dual pane skylights with condensation control and Stormtite thermopane windows that eliminate condensation and filter out UV rays, reducing summer heat buildup.

New on the 1050 and other models is a redesigned optional bumper with three steps, making it easy to enter and exit the camper. A ladder provides access to the roof, and an optional awning over the entrance door extends eight feet. Suggested retail price on the base model 1050 is $25,380.

General Coach, which is part of Thor Industries, backs the Citation with a six-year limited structural and two-year component warranty.

For information, contact General Coach, P. O. Box 700, Oliver, British Columbia VOH 1T0. Phone (250) 498-3471 or visit www.generalcoach.bc.ca

Eagle Cap
The Eagle Cap 1050 offers a new design that includes a forward bath and a large rear kitchen/dining area, with a dinette slideout for extra room. Despite its many amenities, the 1050 has a comparatively low dry weight of 2,950 pounds.

Eagle Cap builds its campers with a welded aluminum superstructure, 100 percent vacuum laminated components and marine-grade fiberglass exterior. The materials and design keep the weight low, giving buyers flexibility in choosing a truck to carry the camper.

The manufacturer’s suggested base price on the Eagle Cap 1050 is $23,275, but popular options can push it above $30,000.

Eagle Cap is now owned by West Coast Leisure Homes, the Canadian builder of Okanagan campers. Intermountain RV, which built Eagle Cap campers, ceased operations in October of 2005, and its assets were purchased by West Coast Leisure Homes.

With new management and a staff of 42 at its plant in La Grande, Oregon, Eagle Cap has resumed production of its most popular models, with a dinette slideout available on most floor plans. Brian Tolley, Eagle Cap sales manager, said Eagle Cap is making improvements to what was already “a sound and innovative product line” by increasing the sidewall gelcoat thickness, for example, and adding other steps to add to the fit and finish quality.

For information, contact Eagle Cap Campers, 59999 Smith Loop, La Grande, OR 97850. Phone (541) 663-1607 or visit www.eaglecapcampers.com.

Host
If one truck camper slideout is good, Host Industries figured two should be even better, and so it has pioneered double slideouts, building campers that are known for their spacious interiors.
With two slideouts extended, the new Host Tahoe 10’6” has 10 feet, six inches of interior width, with the dinette area sliding out on one side and the kitchen on the other. The result is a wide, unobstructed floor area that offers room to maneuver. When one person is cooking at the stove, for example, another person can walk by easily, instead of having to squeeze by.

Host Co-owner Dave Hogue said slideouts on both sides of the camper also add to the balance of the unit. Other design measures, such as putting holding tanks forward in the unit, also enable Host to build a truck camper that handles very well on the road. Host campers are built light, using a vacuum lamination process, an aluminum frame, a fiberglass exterior and a one-piece roof of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)

The Tahoe has a powerful 34,000 BTU forced-air furnace and large holding tanks: 60 gallons for fresh water, 45 gallons for gray water and 35 gallons for black water.

Double slideouts are available on three of Host’s models; single slideouts are either standard or an option on all models. The Tahoe carries a suggested base retail price of $27,370 with the standard single slideout; a second slideout adds $1,400.

Host Industries was started by Hogue and Mark Storch, whose fathers created Beaver campers and motorhomes. For information about Host campers, contact Host Industries, 300 SE Scott St., Bend, OR 97702. Phone (541) 330-2328 or visit www.hostcampers.com

Lance
By adding four new floor plans for 2006, Lance gives buyers a choice of 15 models—one to fit just about any size or need. As the nation’s largest truck camper manufacturer, Lance groups its models into four product lines: Lance Lite, Lance Sports Camper, Lance and Lance Max.

The low-priced Lance Lite series has six models tailored to people’s budgets. The new Sports Camper series was developed for serious outdoor enthusiasts. The “value-added” Lance series is for RVers seeking more features and comes with increased cabover headroom, more floor space and larger tank capacities.

All Lance Max models come with full-wall slideouts, greatly increasing the interior room and adding to the overall comfort. That feeling of spaciousness is carried through in the Lance Max 981 with a huge skylight above the bed in the cabover area and another large skylight in the bathroom.

Even larger and more luxurious is the Lance Max 1191, which has the advantage of a side entry, an extra convenience for anyone who wants to tow a boat or trailer. The 1191 includes a large bathroom with separate shower, additional storage space and very large holding tanks (42 gallons fresh, 35 gray and 38 black).

New this year in all Lance and Lance Max models is a full-size mirrored wardrobe in the cabover. The wardrobe is deep enough to handle storage bins. Another new design this year is a wraparound sofa/bed in Ultra Leather. It has a removable table, and a center section that pulls out for lounging or sleeping.

Lance builds its campers with welded aluminum and bonded lamination technologies, TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) roofs and solid high-density, rigid block foam insulation for year-round use. Suggested retail prices of Lance Max models range from $29,848 to $35,987. Other models start as low as $13,454.

For information, contact Lance Camper Manufacturing Corp., 43120 Venture Street, Lancaster, CA 93535-4510. Phone (661) 949-3322 or visit www.lancecamper.com.

Northern Lite
New for 2006 from Northern Lite is the 9’6” Queen Classic SE, which offers lots of extra features and still maintains a surprisingly low weight—2,150 pounds with standard equipment and under 2,400 pounds even with a number of options.

Northern Lite builds its campers with a process that uses two pieces of molded fiberglass and is similar to construction of a fiberglass boat. Owner Mac Donkin said the weight is kept low by the use of materials such as Nidacore flooring, which is half the weight of plywood, and Dometic acrylic thermal pane windows, which are half the weight of conventional thermal pane windows.

The 9’6”Queen Classic SE includes a face-to-face dinette, a full queen-size mattress, heated and insulated tanks, an extra-large dual battery box, stainless steel sink, and a 6.3-cubic-foot refrigerator. The model carries a suggested retail price of $24,070.

Northern Lite uses oak veneer paneling, builds drawers with Russian birch and metal guides, and never uses particle board. Careful attention to quality has earned the company a five-star rating from the RV Consumer Group for eight straight years.

For information, contact Northern Lite Manufacturing, 322 Totom Court, Kelowna, British Columbia V1X 5W6. Phone (800) 887-5342 or visit www.northern-lite.com.

Okanagan
You can warm yourself by the electric fireplace while you are watching a DVD on a flat-screen TV in the new 116ULT camper, part of the Ultimate Suite Series from Okanagan.

The 116ULT is a double-slideout model with a U-shaped dinette extending outward on one side and an entire kitchen extending outward on the other to create a roomy interior. In addition to an electric fireplace, this model also offers many other options, such as an 8- or 10-cubic-foot refrigerator in place of the standard 6-cubic-foot version, a Step-N-Stow storage bumper with a fold-down step, and a large rear awning.

The 116ULT is designed for extended camping with large heated and enclosed holding tanks, including a 63-gallon fresh water tank. Okanagan says its bathroom is the largest seen in a truck camper, with a full-height fiberglass neo-angle shower with a skylight, a large linen closet and a spacious vanity. The camper has 40 cubic feet of exterior storage to handle camping gear and other items.

Construction features include welded steel framing that is laminated into the floor and attached around the perimeter of the slideout openings for superior structural integrity. The peaked laminated roof is 3 1/2 inches thick at the center, creating a ducted roof air conditioner option. Suggested retail price of the Okanagan 116 ULT ranges from $36,000 to $42,000, depending on how it is equipped.

Okanagan campers are built by West Coast Leisure Homes, which also produces fifth wheels, travel trailers and van conversions. For information, contact West Coast Leisure Homes, 316 Dawson Avenue, Penticton, British Columbia V2A 3N6. Phone (250) 493-1535 or visit www.okanaganrv.com.

S&S
S&S has introduced a new truck camper, the Ponderosa 8.5 FBSC, billed as the only non-slideout camper with a full-booth dinette and a sliding step. The camper has a set of steps that can be hidden away under a booth seat and then pulled out to provide easy access to the queen-size bed over the cab.

S&S Owner Doug Sieler said many camper buyers are older people who find it awkward and difficult to climb into a high bed. The innovative step system solves that problem, and when not in use, the steps can be stored away to create more floor space.

The new model is a self-contained unit that is 8.5 feet long and 8 feet wide. It comes with an insulated and heated basement, a double stainless steel sink with cutting board, a three-burner range with oven, double-door refrigerator, a 20,000 BTU forced-air furnace, and a one-piece TP0 (thermoplastic polyolefin) roof. Other standard amenities include a mirrored headboard, AM/FM/CD stereo system, and a Montana gun drawer.

Another unique advantage for a camper of this size for both long and short box trucks is that it has room to add an optional Onan generator. Suggested retail price is about $18,000.

For information, contact S&S Campers, 2740 Highway 93 South, Kalispell, MT 59901. Phone (800) 735-6909 or visit www.s-scampers.com

M/I Homes Unveils New Model Townhome at Ashton Place in Lisle, Ill.

Read article : M/I Homes Unveils New Model Townhome at Ashton Place in Lisle, Ill.

M/I Homes, one of the most active homebuilders in the Chicago area, announces it is unveiling a decorated model home at Ashton Place, a new community of 26 maintenance-free townhomes in Lisle, Ill., just east of Naperville Road at the intersection of Warrenville Road and Leask Lane.

Prospective buyers will have the first opportunity to tour the new decorated model home at a special celebration on Thursday, August 17, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. The event is open to the public and will include complimentary refreshments, the opportunity to enter a free raffle and tethered hot air balloon rides*.

“We’ve had terrific traffic at Ashton Place since pre-sales started earlier this summer, which speaks volumes about the appeal of this community’s highly desirable location near downtown Lisle, the Morton Arboretum, neighboring Naperville, and the western suburbs’ corporate corridor, not to mention major transportation arteries like Interstates 88 and 355,” said Curt VanHyfte, area president of M/I Homes. “Now, with our new model home available to tour on site, prospective buyers can see for themselves how our home designs are the perfect match for this sought-after area and the beautiful surroundings they’ll enjoy at Ashton Place.”

VanHyfte noted that Ashton Place offers an extremely picturesque setting, with lavish landscaping, winding roads entering the neighborhood, wooded streetscapes and a private cul-de-sac at the back of the development. Additionally, a selection of townhomes in the community back up directly to Leask Lane Park, a new on-site 3-acre neighborhood park that is owned and maintained by the Lisle Park District.

According to Cheryl Bonk, vice president of sales and marketing for M/I Homes, three available floor plans at Ashton Place present a variety of price points, home sizes and design features. Base-priced from $349,990 to $379,990, homes range from 1,866 to 2,231 square feet and feature two to three bedrooms, 2½ baths, an attached two-car garage and a basement. The three plans are available in traditional three-unit townhome buildings and in pairs.

“The groupings of these homes and the overall intimate size of Ashton Place, with just 26 residences, creates a wonderful residential enclave on a lovely property,” said Bonk. “When we unveil our new model home at Ashton Place at our grand opening event, buyers will experience one of these floor plans, our popular Cortland design, firsthand.”

Measuring 2,203 square feet and base-priced from $379,990, the Cortland is a two-story design with two bedrooms and 2½ baths. “The centerpiece of the Cortland is an extremely open family room and dining area configuration, filled with abundant sunlight from lots of windows,” said Bonk. “The model also shows this floor plan with an upgraded gourmet kitchen and optional private patio, which create a great setup for casual family gatherings or simply comfortable day-to-day living.”

The Cortland also features a large kitchen pantry, under-staircase storage area, and foyer powder room on the first floor. An extra-wide staircase leads to the second level, which opens into a large loft that is showcased in the model as a home office with an expanse of built-in cabinetry as well as a beverage cooler. “The loft could just as easily be used as a second family room, theater room or workout space, or buyers can choose an alternate layout with a third bedroom in lieu of the loft,” said Bonk. “Buyers really appreciate this type of flexible space since it allows them to tailor the home to their own lifestyle.”

In the Cortland model, hardwood flooring runs through the loft and into the adjacent master suite, which includes a luxury master bath with oversized shower, and a walk-in closet with a door to the second-floor laundry room. The secondary bedroom also has a walk-in closet, and an en suite bath with a double vanity.

Other options and customizations on display in the Cortland model include a brick fireplace in the family room; built-in cabinetry, with apothecary spice drawers and a quartz top, in the dining area; and kitchen upgrades including stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and 42-inch maple cabinets.

Ashton Place offers residents the convenience of maintenance-free living, with exterior maintenance snow removal, landscaping and lawn service provided.

The community is located in School District 202 featuring Tate Woods Elementary, Lisle Jr. High School and Lisle High School. Residents of Ashton Place will enjoy being in close proximity to downtown Lisle, a pedestrian-friendly hub of dining and retail outlets surrounded by a prairie-style streetscape inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. Walking distance from downtown is the Lisle Metra BNSF Railway, providing easy access to Union Station in Chicago as well as neighboring suburbs. Lisle also offers unique attractions such as the Museums at Lisle Station Park where visitors can learn about the heritage and culture of 19th century Northern Illinois. Lisle is home to the popular Eyes to the Skies Festival, a three-day event that includes hot air balloons, musical performances, a carnival and fireworks.

For more information or to RSVP to the August 17 grand opening event, visit www.mihomes.com/ashtonplace or call Nicole Skrocki at (630) 296-9774. The event will take place in the new Cortland model and sales center at 1989 Fiona Lane in Lisle (for GPS, please us 2010 Warrenville Road, Lisle). *Tethered hot air balloon rides are offered based on weather conditions and availability. Rides are on a first-come, first-serve basis from 6 to 8 p.m. Participants must register and sign a tethered-balloon passenger waiver agreement.

Homes at all M/I Homes communities come standard with the builder’s industry-leading 15-Year Transferable Structural Warranty, which not only allows buyers to purchase with confidence, but also adds value if the home is sold in the future. All homes are also WHOLE HOME Certified, an M/I Homes designation indicating the builder’s superior approach when constructing homes. Upon testing, an M/I home will receive a more favorable HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score than an Energy Star-certified home, which can save buyers upwards of 30 percent on their energy bills. A lower HERS Index means lower energy costs, and on average an M/I home achieves a HERS rating of 57, considerably lower than other resale homes and other builders in the market.

About M/I Homes:

M/I Homes has been building new homes of outstanding quality and superior design for over 40 years. Founded in 1976 by Irving and Melvin Schottenstein, M/I Homes has fulfilled the dreams of over 100,000 homeowners. From its start as a family business, M/I has grown into a national leader. M/I Homes of Chicago is one of the top four builders in the market, with 24 active communities across the region. All M/I Homes are 100% WHOLE HOME certified and are backed by the company’s landmark 15-Year Transferable Structural Warranty.

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Originally published Aug 11, 2017.

Calatlantic Homes’ new home in Menifee celebrate model grand opening, Aug. 19

Read article : Calatlantic Homes’ new home in Menifee celebrate model grand opening, Aug. 19

Courtesy photo

MENIFEE – Already a popular choice among home seekers who have pre-qualified to purchase one of CalAtlantic Homes’ gorgeous single-family, detached new homes, Parkview and Newport at Heritage Lake in Menifee will celebrate the official model grand opening Saturday, Aug. 19. The exciting event will offer guests food, festivities and the exciting opportunity to tour eight professionally landscaped and decorated models.

To join in the fun from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit the Parkview Sales Center at 29643 Canyonlands Drive and the Newport Sales Center at 29537 Caravel Drive, in Menifee. For more information, visit www.calatlantichomes.com or call the Parkview Sales Center at (951) 246-7210 and the Newport Sales Center at (951) 672-7773.

Limited to just 69 residences, Parkview is attractively priced from the low $400,000s, making it easy for a broad spectrum of buyers to enjoy upscale living without an upscale price. A quartet of generously proportioned floor plans range in size from approximately 2,659 to 3,928 square feet and showcase up to six bedrooms, two-and-one-half to four-and-one-half baths, open-concept designs, versatile dens and lofts and three- and four-car garages.

Parkview’s grand one- and two-story home designs features great rooms, formal dining rooms, optional California rooms, classic front porches, optional lofts or bonus rooms per plan and distinctive Spanish, Traditional and Craftsman-inspired architecture.

Impressive kitchens boast stainless steel appliances, hand-selected designer finishes, breakfast areas, islands and walk-in pantries. Expansive master suites display resort-inspired baths with up to two spacious walk-in closets, separate soaking tubs, walk-in showers and dual vanities.

Home shoppers will be thrilled to discover Newport’s open and inviting floor plans, which perfectly complement Southern California’s world-famous lifestyle. Priced from the $400,000s, four contemporary one- and two-story designs measuring approximately 2,550 to 3,511 square feet feature up to five bedrooms, as many as three-and-one-half baths, two- and three-car garages, great rooms, formal dining rooms and fully appointed gourmet kitchens with islands, stainless steel appliances and walk-in pantries.

Varying designs offer versatile bonus rooms, lofts, optional dens and California rooms. Every residence hosts a master suite with walk-in closet, large soaking tub and separate shower.

The amenity-rich, master-planned community of Heritage Lake features a 25-acre catch-and-release lake, clubhouse, splash park, tot lot, waterfront swimming pool and two elementary schools. It offers easy access to Interstate 15 and Interstate 215, as well as California Citrus Heritage State Park, Diamond Valley Lake and Temecula Valley’s wine country.

Freestanding Bath Square Against Wall 1600mm $1150

Read article : Freestanding Bath Square Against Wall 1600mm $1150

* Solid Acrylic Body * Stainless Steel Frame Underneath *Adjustable Feet*High quality *Stylish design

***This style four sides can fully against wall, save cost for doing the frame and save labour cost as well***

Model: 806230
Size:
1600 x 795 X 550mm
***Can Fully Against Wall***
Water contenting : 339 liters

Product feature:
- Solid Acrylic Body
- Stainless Steel Frame Underneath
- Adjustable Feet

Please check out the photos for measurement.

*Buy now or contact us quickly.

**Questions are welcome**

#Check more great deals#: http://www.trademe.co.nz/stores/danik-homeware-co

*Please contact us national delivery or leave your comments for more*

Our showroom :127D Pilkington Rd,Panmure,AKL
Open hours: Monday – Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm,
Sunday:10:30 am-3.30 pm
If you have not received your goods in 7 days after you made your payment, please notify us.

ABOUT US:
As a specialist in bathroom ware, Frameless Glass Shower, Lights and Shower Fittings, the Danik brand has been in Auckland 16 years was established in 2001.
DANIK Homeware Co. Ltd is home interior designed ware supplier which sourcing affordable designer home furnishing products at very competitive prices directly from the manufacturer for all our customers.
We aim to be a leader under sector by providing enhanced services that exceeds the expectations of our esteemed customer. And also mission to build long term relationships with our customers and clients and provide exceptional customer services by pursuing business. We believe in treating our customers with respect and helpful. We integrate honesty, integrity and business ethics into all aspects of our business functioning.

Our range includes:
BATHROOM WARE & HOME DESIGNED LIGHTING, LED LIGHTINGS, CUSHIONS, HANDCRAFT LAMPS, FURNISHING MIRRORS...... Please click here to ask a question

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Beneteau First 50 - MySailing.com.au

Read article : Beneteau First 50 - MySailing.com.au

Beneteau's latest cruiser/racer is from super-yacht specialist Philippe Briand, by Vanessa Dudley.

FIRST of all, it's not a Farr boat. French boat builder Beneteau has had a golden run with its First line of production cruiser/racers bearing the Farr Yacht Design name, most notably with the First 40.7 and more recently the 47.7, 44.7 and 36.7.
For its new First 50-footer, however, Beneteau turned to Philippe Briand, the French naval architect whose focus in recent years has been on super-maxis like the 140ft Mari Cha IV. Briand advances the proposition that "the primary function of a yacht is to be aesthetic. Her owner has to be proud of her?.

"Philippe Briand was brought onboard to produce a beautiful boat," says John Cowpe of the Australian Beneteau importer, Vicsail. While smaller First models like the 44.7 and 34.7 have been aimed at IRC racing, the new First 50 has a different primary focus, Cowpe says. "It's a sports cruiser, a boat you would race in Premier Cruising division rather than against the IRC class boats like the Cookson 50s."

The result is a stylish and well-proportioned yacht which has some interesting signature features like the "eyebrows" (or eyelids) over the side windows in the coach house (giving the boat a distinctive look, while also providing protection so the windows can be left open while sailing in moderate conditions), and the long bank of green tinted skylight hatches along the centreline both ahead and behind the mast.

It is a much sleeker craft than Beneteau's other current model 50 in the Oceanis cruising range.

In fact it probably has more in common with semi-custom craft such as the Marten 49 in the modern performance/sports cruiser category. With its carbon composite construction the Marten offers higher performance, but at a considerably higher price.

The first boat to arrive in Australia is Playstation 3, for Sydney yachtsman Dean Harrigan, stepping towards a more performance oriented boat from his previous Beneteau 53f5 Big Kahuna, and Greg Hargraves.

Playstation 3 attracted a great deal of interest at the Sydney International Boat Show in August before whisking away for the delivery north to the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, where it was to compete in the Premier IRC division.

By the time this review is published, there will be racing results on the board for the new boat, which at the time of writing did not yet have an IRC rating.

Rig and deck layout

Playstation 3 is fitted with a black-painted aluminium mast produced by Sparcraft; keel-stepped and tapered with triple aft-swept (20 degree) spreaders. A slightly taller carbon mast, weighing roughly 100kg less, is a more expensive option. The large section aluminium boom is also from Sparcraft.

"A lot has been learned from racing boats to produce a simple boat that works," says John Cowpe. The mainsheet trims on an electric-powered winch on a central island base with no traveller, relying on vang sheeting. There are Navtec hydraulic controls for the vang and the backstay.

Harken winches are used with a 53.2 self-tailer for the main, 60.2 self-tailers for the primaries and four 48.2s on the coach house for the halyards and control lines.

Standard running rigging includes Dyneema halyards and control lines leading back to jammers on the coach roof within reach of the cockpit. Where possible lines are recessed into the deck to provide less cluttered space.
The headsail has a fixed genoa furler under the foredeck. The anchor locker houses a tilting bow roller fitting for the 24kg Delta anchor. A hydraulic ram controls anchor launching on the pivoting arm, which turns through 180 degrees, and there is a 12 volt 1500 watt electric windlass. A separate sail locker with its own access hatch is also located at the bow.
The electronic instruments on Playstation 3 are from B&G, which also supplied an autopilot. This makes the steering a little heavier than would otherwise be the case, but will be a boon for deliveries and cruising.

The standard boat comes with teak cockpit seats, but Playstation 3 was also given a full teak decking job by Vicsail's after-sales team. This added an estimated 80-110kg of weight; "one big guy spread across the whole boat, so it?s not a big issue," says John Cowpe.

The two steering wheels are 900mm diameter painted aluminium. The transom folds down by simply releasing a barrel bolt to provide a boarding and swim platform. The aft section of the cockpit houses a large locker for the life raft or tender, safety gear, etc, and there is a lot more storage in the cockpit seat lockers.

Playstation 3 is set up with a cockpit lighting system of blue LEDs on the boom in front of the mainsheet so "doing a race like the Pittwater to Coffs, the crew can see without blinding the helm," says John Cowpe.

Below decks

The First 50 interior is very much in keeping with the latest styling across the major production yacht builders, including the use of light oak coloured timber, open floor spaces and those raised, square hand basins which are everywhere these days.

The first time I saw this styling ? Japanese influenced to my eye ? was on the German Hanse range, although I'm not sure if that's where it originated.

Stepping down the companionway brings you into a large, light and airy saloon, with a lot of headroom (1.95 to 2.01m) in spite of the relatively low-slung proportions of the coach roof.

The row of green tinted hatches in the centre of the coach roof can be sealed off with blinds and provides a healthy amount of light. According to Beneteau there are in fact 24 opening ports and hatches when you count up all the Lewmar windows with their anodised aluminium frames and include the sliding companionway hatch.

Halogen lighting and articulating reading lamps are included in the standard fit out.

The layout provides three private double cabins, the forward cabin having an en suite bathroom with a separate shower stall, while the mirror-image aft cabins are served by a smaller bathroom on the port side of the companionway. The forward toilet has an 80lt holding tank.

The two aft cabins have innovative soft fabric zip-up hanging lockers on stainless steel frames, while the front cabin has a more conventional full height locker. There is plenty of attention to detail throughout this craft, such as the internal light which comes on automatically when you open this forward locker.

Other details include a dedicated holding area for the stormboards behind the companionway steps, and drawers within drawers in the galley, which is on the starboard side at the aft end of the saloon.

The galley facilities include a 60lt top-opening icebox with a 12 volt evaporative cooling system, plus there is a 100lt fridge, as well as an LP gas oven and stove and quite a lot of storage compartments and bench space.

The L-shaped settee on the port side flanks a timber table on stainless steel legs, while there are two more removable/reversible seats on the centreline. Opposite to starboard is another settee, while outboard on both sides are banks of cupboards with upward opening doors.

Aft of the dining area is a generously sized navigation station with swivel chair, chart table, electrics panel and space to mount nav instruments, radios, etc. An aft-facing desk area can accommodate a laptop computer. The radio/CD/MP3 player is included in the standard equipment list with two saloons and two outside speakers.

Instead of having large floorboards which can be difficult to manage, the First 50 has small laminated timber squares which are lifted individually using a suction cap. This allows access to the bilge and inclusions such as the wine rack housed under the floorboards adjacent to the front of the galley.

The Yanmar 55hp engine under the companionway has an 80Amp alternator attached and a 40Amp battery charger. The 12 volt batteries include a 110 Amp engine starting battery plus two 140 Amp house batteries and there is 220V shore supply with a circuit breaker, and seven 220 volt sockets around the cabins.

Performance

By the time this test is published, Playstation 3 will have some runs on the board from the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. We did not race the boat, but sailed her in a 5-12kt westerly breeze on Sydney Harbour in flat water.
She is a big, powerful performer, with the T-profile torpedo bulb keel providing a reassuring amount of righting moment when pressed.

In bumpy water you would not expect her to equal the performance of boats like the carbon hulled Marten 49, but her IRC rating should reflect that difference, and in flat water she achieved impressive numbers upwind and reaching without using her new suit of Norths 3DL sails or a spinnaker, which will be flown conventionally from a pole rather than a bowsprit.

Beneteau clearly sees a future in the sports/performance cruiser concept, as the company will release a First 45, also designed by Philippe Briand and similar to the 50 with stylish lines, twin wheels and an open transom, at this year's Paris Boat Show in December.

Specifications

Length overall ... .. .. 14.98m
Waterline length ... ... .. 14.65m
Beam ... ... ... 4.37m
Draft (deep draft option)... 2.80m
Displacement ... ... ... 13,780kg
Ballast ... .. ... 4300kg
Sail area:
Mainsail.............. 68.60sq m
Genoa.............. 70.10sq m
Spinnaker.......... 160sq m
Construction: Solid GRP hull, reinforced by longitudinals and local reinforcements in high load areas, with structural inner hull and deck mouldings bonded and laminated into place. Infusion moulded deck of sandwich GRP/balsa/polyester resin. Mixed lead/cast iron keel with lead and antimony bulb and hollow keel fin, fixed to the hull using stainless steel bolts and backing plates. Composite rudder of GRP/foam with rudder stock of biaxial and unidirectional cloth.
Fuel capacity......................237lt
Water capacity....................................568lt
Engine..........................................Yanmar 75hp marine diesel sail drive with three-bladed folding propeller
Base price: $756,000 ex sails & instruments; $925,000 as tested
Designer: Philippe Briand
Builder: Chantiers Beneteau, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, France, www.beneteau.com.
Australian distributor: Vicsail, Rushcutters Bay, NSW. Tel (02) 9327 2088; or visit www.vicsail.com 

Northgate Crossing apartments await the expanding suburb of Wheeling

Read article : Northgate Crossing apartments await the expanding suburb of Wheeling

The long-anticipated Wheeling Town Center, a mixed-use activity hub on the south side of Dundee Road, is expected to break ground this fall. When completed a movie theater, restaurants and retailers will neighbor the 100-acre Heritage Park and aquatic center as well as a Metra train station.

Within walking distance on the north side of the road is Northgate Crossing apartments. The new 288-unit, low-rise rental community will be wrapping up its construction about the time the town center gets started.

"Wheeling isn't an area people think of right away, but it's up-and-coming," said Northgate Business Manager Jillion Volz. "We're just a little earlier than everything is popping up."

Northgate Crossing is being developed by Reva Development Partners and built by Kinzie Builders. Lincoln Property Residential is managing the community.

The residents, who began arriving late December, tend to be either young professionals or empty nesters. They are drawn to the corporate offices in the area, nearby North Shore attractions and easy access to highways and the train route.

The younger residents often are establishing themselves in careers before they buy a home while the older ones may have sold theirs, said Matt Nix, principal at Reva.

"We provide kind of a transitional housing option to or from a single-family home while people make their next housing decision," he said.

"Our price point is a little lower than that of the surrounding communities," Volz said.

Surrounded by a mature landscape, Northgate Crossing is set back from the traffic on Dundee Road. Nine three-story elevator buildings are interspersed amid a clubhouse and retention pond. Each building is entered via a secure foyer.

Six floor plans are offered: four with one bedroom and one bath, and two with two bedrooms and two baths. One of the one-bedroom plans also has a den.

Residents have a choice of two color combinations: white cabinetry with dark counters and flooring or espresso cabinets and medium-hued counters and flooring. Stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, in-unit clothes washers and dryers, window blinds, closet shelving systems and lever door handles are standard. Vinyl plank flooring and cream-colored carpeting is per plan. Bathrooms have white subway tile surrounds and ceramic tile floors. All units have either a patio or balcony.

The largest two-bedroom apartment is the 1,212-square-foot Edison. A second-floor model opens to a foyer with a built-in art niche on one side and a laundry closet on the other. A great room has spaces allocated for sitting, formal dining and food preparation. The U-shaped kitchen has breakfast seating along one counter. An alcove with upper and lower cabinets can serve as a dry bar or buffet and hutch combo.

The two bedrooms and baths are at opposite sides of the apartment. The master suite has walk-in and linen closets and a bath with oversized shower and comfort-height dual vanities. The second bath, which is adjacent to the guest bedroom, has an extra-deep tub.

A circular drive fronts the clubhouse, where lounge seating, flat-screen television, pool table, two-way fireplace and full kitchen invite residents to spend their leisure hours. A business center provides computers and printer. The 24-hour fitness center has cardio and weight-training equipment. The media room has an extra-large flat-screen TV and theater-style lounge chairs; it can be rented for private viewings. Wi-Fi is complimentary in the clubhouse and pool area.

Outdoor amenities include swimming pool and sun deck, locker rooms with showers, bocce ball court, grilling station, fire pit and dog park.

Northgate Crossing is pet-friendly, although restrictions apply. Three buildings are pet-free.

Pamela Dittmer McKuen is a freelance writer.

Northgate Crossing

250 Northgate Parkway, Wheeling; ,847-947-2717 andwww.northgatewheeling.com

Apartments: Prices based on availability and subject to change. One-bedroom, 696 to 873 square feet, from $1,475; one-bedroom with den, 883 square feet, from $1,675; two-bedroom, 1190 to 1212 square feet, from $1,965.

Lease terms: 12- and 15-month leases. Application fee $50; administration fee $450; no security deposit.

Renter's insurance: $50,000 liability required minimum.

Utilities: Resident pays all utilities.

Parking: Open parking is free. Private garages available for $125 to $170 a month.

Pets: Two pets per apartment. Size and breed restrictions apply. Pet fees are $250 one-time and $20 monthly per pet. Three buildings are pet-free.

Smoking policy: Smoke-free.

Amenities: Resident clubhouse with lounge seating, flat-screen television, fire place, full kitchen, pool table, business center, fitness center and theater room. Outdoor swimming pool with sundeck, grilling station, bocce ball court and fire pit. Complimentary Wi-Fi in clubhouse and pool area. Dog park. Open parking, although private garages with inside access are available at additional cost. Apartments are furnished with vinyl plank flooring and carpeting per plan, in-unit clothes washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, walk-in closets, window blinds and key fob access. Patios and balconies are per plan.

Close to municipal services, Interstate 294 and Route 53. Metra train station across Dundee Road offers weekday-only service on the North Central Line.

A 2-bedroom, 2-bath corner model on the River North / Gold Coast border

Read article : A 2-bedroom, 2-bath corner model on the River North / Gold Coast border

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http://www.ChestnutTowerChicago.com

Chestnut Tower is a boutique high-rise that’s only about 15 years old but has been upgrading its amenities and apartment finishes.

The building has a fitness room, a business center, a rooftop resident lounge, a rooftop sundeck with gas grills and spectacular views, and a private dog park.

Chestnut Tower has studio to 3-bedroom, 3-bath apartments with hardwood floors, in-unit washer / dryers and new kitchens with quartz counters and stainless steel appliances.

Chestnut Tower is a few blocks from CTA Brown and Red Line stops. It’s a block away from the tranquil and delightful Washington Square Park.

Potash Market, Treasure Island and Whole Foods are a few minutes’ walk away. Michigan Avenue’s Mag Mile shops are less than a 10-minute walk to the east and Oak Street’s glamorous boutiques are a few blocks north.

There’s an almost endless variety of dining and nightlife options within a few blocks of Chestnut Tower.

Join YoChicago in this sponsored video for a tour of an 02-tier 2-bedroom, 2-bath model at Chestnut Tower.

An 06-tier 2-bedroom, 2-bath model at Streeterville’s new Optima Signature apartments

Read article : An 06-tier 2-bedroom, 2-bath model at Streeterville’s new Optima Signature apartments

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http://www.OptimaSignature.com

The architecturally distinctive Optima Signature soars 57 stories and is Streeterville’s tallest rental high-rise. The tower’s height and stellar location are only two of the ways in which Optima Signature is vying to set a new benchmark in downtown Chicago.

Optima Signature boasts three dedicated amenities levels that encompass indoor and outdoor pools, sundeck terraces, resident lounges, a cutting-edge fitness center, basketball and squash courts, a golf simulator, putting green, and a business center. There are indoor / outdoor children’s play areas and indoor / outdoor dog parks.

Optima Signature has convertible to 3-bedroom apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows, wide plank flooring, stainless steel appliances, quartz or granite counters and in-unit washer / dryers. The top 16 residential floors, the Apex apartments, have upgraded finishes and 9- or 10-foot ceilings.

The Streeterville Whole Foods is adjacent to Optima Signature.

Join us in this sponsored video for a walk through an 06-tier 2-bedroom, 2-bath model apartment.

Fun with Fiberglass

Read article : Fun with Fiberglass

Photographer:

Lightweight molded-fiberglass RVs are designed for long-term durability and improved mpg — and they look cool, too

RVs are constructed in a number of different ways, but many follow the same basic blueprint: Start with a steel or aluminum frame, build up the walls with wood and/or aluminum, more framing and composite materials, cover the structure with a roof and wrap the entire unit with either aluminum panels or gelcoat fiberglass. While conventional construction methods work well, another successful strategy has been in place for years and continues to flourish: molded fiberglass.

 RVs built from molded fiberglass are sleek and shiny, and share their origins with the marine industry (think boat hull). In a molded-fiberglass trailer, fifth-wheel or truck camper, the rigid fiberglass body actually serves as the main framing element, as well as the interior and exterior skin. The body of the RV is essentially two pieces that clamshell together, resulting in a durable, corrosion-resistant body that is quite strong and can have several advantages over traditionally built RVs.

Casita Spirit Deluxe" width="400" height="267" />Casita Spirit Deluxe

“The two-piece fiberglass shell has one main seam around the center belt line,” explains Grant Bilodeau, president of Bigfoot RV. “Traditional trailers are made of many separate side, floor and roof panels, and are then screwed together with many moldings and seals. As RVs are meant to travel down the road, a traditional trailer will flex over time, and all the extra seams and joints become higher maintenance and risk points for leaking. With a fiberglass trailer, thereis only one seam to worry about.”

“Fiberglass molded trailers are sprayed into a mold with gelcoat and fiberglass,” Bilodeau adds. “The glass content is like the rebar in concrete — it gives you all your strength, as the resin binds it all together.”

Fiberglass construction can also lead to some positive results when it comes to fuel mileage, handling and durability. “Our fiberglass campers are 25 percent lighter than conventionally built truck campers,” says Keith Donkin, general manager at Northern Lite Manufacturing. “They are very aerodynamically designed for improved fuel efficiency, and they feature a very low center of gravity, which eliminates the sway of a conventionally built camper.”

Improved towing characteristics and longevity do come with a trade-off. Molded-fiberglass RVs can be a bit more costly than their conventionally built counterparts. But manufacturers of fiberglass RVs claim the difference in price can easily be amortized over the lifetime of the RV.

Dub-Box USA

“Generally, people like our trailers because they are easy to tow, easy to set up, and they last forever,” reports Kent Eveland, president of Scamp Trailers. “Most of the trailers we built in the 1970s are still in use.”

Robert P. Partee, general sales manager of Oliver Travel Trailers, agrees. “Most fiberglass trailers hold their value over the years much better than the standard-build types,” he says. “Constructing travel trailers with fiberglass has been flying under the radar for years.”

Often eclectic, sometimes retro-chic and always eye-catching, molded-fiberglass RVs are frequently the focus of online communities and club rallies. “We find our trailers appeal to all ages in part because of the nostalgia factor, as well as the simplicity and weight,” says Heather Gardella, president of Dub Box USA.

Check out the following collection of some of the more interesting fiberglass RVs on the market today.

Bigfoot

Bigfoot Industries manufactures a variety of travel trailers and truck campers, all featuring clamshell molded-fiberglass construction.

Bigfoot actually overlaps the top shell onto the bottom and uses a special sealant to further guard against water penetration. The 2500 series travel trailers include R-8 insulation, which, when combined with the fiberglass base (less conductive than aluminum or steel), creates a more livable four-season RV, according to Bilodeau. Seven floorplans ranging from 17 to 25 feet are available. The 25B25FB boasts a full rear bath, sleeping space for up to six and standards that include a porcelain toilet, aluminum wheels, heated and enclosed tanks, and aliving-area skylight. The option to enclose the A-frame and add cargo space is not only practical but looks great as well. Other options includea solar-power system, 11,000-Btu roof air conditioner, exterior speakers and an electric A-frame jack.

250-546-2155
www.bigfootrv.com

Casita

For 33 years, Casita has been building lightweight fiberglass trailers. The 17-foot Casita Spirit Deluxe offers comfortable sleeping arrangements for three, with a bit more space for guests, provided they are of the smaller variety. Both sleeping areas convert to dinettes by day, meaning the trailer can easily accommodate more than it can sleep before the sun goes down. A couch/bunk-bed option ups the ante even more. The surprisingly wide-open floorplan means occupants won’t trip over each other while moving about. In Deluxe models, a large, full-featured bathroom is located at the front of the trailer, as is a roomy storage wardrobe. Standard features include custom marine-grade fiberglass furniture, carpet-lined storage compartments and a powered roof vent. Owners can also opt for LED lighting, a microwave, an electric A-frame jack and a larger gray-water holding tank.

800-442-9986
www.casitatraveltrailers.com

Dub Box

Dub Box USA manufactures lightweight fiberglass trailers reminiscent of the Volkswagen Microbus popular in the 1960s and ’70s. Dub Box trailers are not true Volkswagen conversions but are in fact manufactured from a fiberglass mold made from the vintage VW Bus. Each Dub Box trailer comes equipped with classic moon-style hubcaps, a hot/cold outdoor shower, a two-burner stove, a sink, a 3-cubic-foot refrigerator, an LP-gas water heater, an L-shaped convertible couch with 4-inch cushions, a folding dinette table and Sunbrella weather curtains for the pop-top. Options include air conditioning, solar panels, a luggage roof rack and a storage box on the A-frame. Buyers get to select the paint color for the exterior to match their tow vehicle.

503-744-0032
www.dub-box-usa.com

Eggcamper

Eggcamper trailers are ultralightweight and offer a fun way to enjoy RVing. Available only from the factory in Grandville, Michigan, and weighing less than 2,000 pounds (dry, without options), the Eggcamper can be towed by almost any properly equipped truck, van or SUV. The all-white trailers may look spartan inside, but they contain all the amenities needed for weekend fun, including sleeping space for two to four, a galley with a stainless sink, a 2.4-cubic-foot refrigerator, available air-conditioner, appliances and a lavatory with a toilet (or a large storage area instead). Plus, the smooth interior makes cleanup a breeze. The Dexter Torflex suspension is a welcome inclusion, as are the power roof vent and radius safety-glass windows with screens and miniblinds. LP-gas options are available, in addition to the electric-only model powered by an appropriately sized AC generator, along with the standard 30-amp converter with charger.

616-437-9255
www.eggcamper.com

Escape

Another big name in the molded-fiberglass market is Escape Trailers. Based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Escape offers several fiberglass travel trailers and more recently introduced a fifth-wheel. All Escape trailers are compact and lightweight for easy towing, and the Escape 21 is designed specifically for tow vehicles with weight ratings down to 5,000 pounds. But don’t be fooled by the diminutive size. Escape trailers are equipped with full galleys, bathrooms and living areas, in addition to oak cabinetry, high-grade linoleum flooring and an insulated headliner. Other impressive standards include two roof vents, LED ceiling lighting, full-surround overhead storage and a holding-tank monitor. Popular options range from appliance upgrades to a stereo, a water filter and a solar charging system.

855-703-1650
www.escapetrailer.com

Happier Camper

In addition to offering vintage restored fiberglass rentals, Happier Camper now builds the unique HC1 trailer. The base-price HC1 begins as an empty shell built using bonded double-hull fiberglass with 1.5-inch honeycomb fiberglass flooring. Grooves are embedded in the flooring to accommodate the modular components (think Legos) that will make up the custom floorplan, including a kitchenette, benches, cushions, an AC/DC refrigerator cube, tables, floor panels — there’s even a portable-potty cube. Buyers can configure the layout exactly as they’d like it, and the price is determined by the selected modules. LED lighting comes standard, as do built-in rear stabilizing jacks and an undercarriage-mounted full-size spare tire. Add-ons include compatible comfort heating, stereos, electric fans and moon-style hubcaps.

818-649-9099
www.happiercamper.com

Nest Caravans

A newcomer to the fiberglass-trailer market, Nest Caravans from Bend, Oregon, combines the easy-towing
capabilities of a lighter-weight fiberglass trailer with elegantsophistication and an eye for detail. Nest trailers are available in five color combinations with an array of useful exterior standards, including a nosecone storage box, all-LED exterior lighting, BAL stabilizing jacks and frameless windows. Inside, dimmable switches help control the mood with all-LED lighting, and the galley shimmers with a stainless-steel sink, two-burner cooktop and 3.2-cubic-foot refrigerator. The full-time queen bed can comfortably sleep two. Options include a convertible dinette, natural cork tiles, a microwave and an entertainment system.

541-610-2292
www.nestcaravans.com

Northern Lite

Another Canadian manufacturer, Northern Lite Manufacturing in Kelowna, British Columbia, builds fiberglass truck campers designed to withstand extreme weather. The company’s top-selling Ten 2000 EX CD SE boasts some impressive features like 95-watt solar panels, a 10-foot side awning, an LCD TV and DVD player, thermal-pane windows and skylight, solid hardwood and more. There’s even a full 14-inch basement with heated and enclosed storage tanks. Sleep like a baby on the 60 x 80-inch queen bed, or take a warm shower in the large bathroom area. Options include an air conditioner, electric jacks, LED lighting in the electric awning, battery-disconnect, an extended patio bumper, and a boat rack and ladder. With a floor length of more than 11 feet, this camper weighs in at 1,400 to 2,000 pounds lighter than comparable conventionally built campers with the same features, offering buyers the best of both worlds.

250-765-3702
www.northern-lite.com

Oliver

Oliver Travel Trailers offers two fiberglass trailers, the Legacy and Legacy Elite II. “Ollies,” as they’re called, begin at the Tennessee factory with dual fiberglass shells. The shells are then wrapped around a hefty 2 x 5-inch aircraft-grade-aluminum box-tube frame, offering additional rigidity and durability. All holding tanks and components are enclosed between the inner and outer shells for superior insulation benefits and protection from the elements. The 2016 Legacy Elite II has a number of impressive features, from the custom-molded-fiberglass spare-tire and LP-gas cylinder covers to LED lighting, marine-grade stainless-steel cabinet latches and eye-catching interior gelcoat walls and cabinets. Options range from fiber-granite countertops to a solar package, plus a tech-savvy selection that includes Wi-Fi and cell-phone boosters, a rearview camera, and satellite antennas and wiring.

931-796-1178
www.olivertraveltrailers.com

Scamp

Scamp fiberglass trailers are sold factory-direct in Backus, Minnesota. Available in 13- and 16-foot trailers and a 19-foot fifth-wheel, the nimble RVs are ideal for couples and smaller families on weekend getaways. Scamp has always focused on easeof use and maneuverability. Its trailers are durable, lightweight and aerodynamic, and are designed to be towed by properly equipped small cars, SUVs, minivans and trucks.

The 13-footer is available in Standard or Deluxe (upgraded interior), with a convertible sofa or a shower and toilet up front. The options package that includes the lavatory features a 1.9-cubic-foot refrigerator, a screen door, a water pump, a water heater, a gravel shield and a window above the range. Additional add-ons include cabinet configurations, a 2-inch hitch receiver for bike racks, TV hookups and antenna, and an 8-foot awning.

800-346-4962
www.scamptrailers.com

Weis Craft

The Little Joe is a lightweight fiberglass trailer that offers two people a comfortable place to stay while on the road. Inside, dual sofas fold down to create the ultimate 78 x 63-inch sleeping area. Although the Little Joe doesn’t have bathroom facilities (those come in Weis Craft’s Ponderosa model for an additional $6,000), a two-burner cooktop and a standard icebox allow for gourmet campsite fare (a refrigerator option is available), and a small freshwater tank lets owners clean up after a long day’s adventure. Options abound in the Little Joe, including a furnace, air conditioning, folding shelves, a three-speed reversible fan and an 8-foot awning. And, chances
are, you already own a vehicle that can haul the Little Joe.

303-947-2351
www.weiscrafttrailers.com/littlejoe

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