A place to work

As kids, most of us dreaded the seemingly endless amount of homework and the hours upon hours of sitting at the kitchen table studying, memorizing and writing. As grownups, sometimes the tasks required by our jobs are not accomplished in an ordinary eight-hour day.

At some point, when we have outgrown the dining table as a work surface and if we have a spare room, we imagine a home office. Designing that work space should be an exercise in both function and aesthetics.Assess how much time you will spend working there. Is this your main office space, or is this just a work area to complete and check daily work and pay household bills? Besides a work surface or desk, consider what else you want, such as bookcases, storage, filing space, computer, electronics, lighting and appropriate seating.Make it appealing but not distracting. Select some art you enjoy, and get to work.by Joseph PubillonesCreators New ServiceAesthetic considerations are next. Your selection of wall colors, the finish on your case goods, such as desks and cabinets, and flooring - whether carpet, wood or tile - will determine the feel of your office. Do you prefer a warm clubby library, a cool high-tech contemporary look or sophisticated high-style glam feel? It's up to you.

Creators New Service

AFA presenting replacement medal to Tuskegee Airmen pilot

When 87-year-old Franklin Macon thinks of his Tuskegee Airmen medal, he's reminded of how fortunate he was to receive his wings in a time when the military resisted black pilots. When the medal - awarded to famed World War II black pilots - was stolen from his house during a break-in on May 31, he didn't expect to get it back.

When Macon receives his replacement medal, which depicts pilots on the front and aircraft on the back, he said he'll store it somewhere special.But thanks to the efforts of the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Academy, Macon will receive a replacement at a ceremony today at the academy."I'll probably put a picture of it where it used to be," he laughed.Macon is the former president of the Hooks Jones Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., which recognizes the accomplishments of black pilots who served in World War II.A laptop and coins stored in old amno cans also were taken from Macon's home. No one has been arrested and the medal has not been recovered.The original Congressional Gold Medal was presented by President George W. Bush to the group of black pilots in a 2007 ceremony. It is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Bronze replicas were minted and offered to the Tuskegee Airmen chapters for purchase.Macon received his pilot's license in 12th grade. Several months after completing basic training with the Army Air Corps, he went to flight school in Tuskegee, Ala. A ruptured ear drum left him hospitalized in 1945, and when he was released, World War II was over. Macon taught gunnery to the remaining students, but never served in combat.Macon came home in late May to find the framework of his front door splayed across the living room and the medal missing from its spot on a bookcase among other Tuskegee Airmen memorabilia, including a wooden model of a plane he flew in training.He didn't imagine then that there would one day be black airline pilots, and said Eleanor Roosevelt helped break the barriers for blacks pursuing aviation."I looked over to where I had the medal and it was gone. I said, 'Oh brother,'" he said."I hate what happened, but I'm glad to get a new one," Macon said.

"I'll probably put a picture of it where it used to be," he laughed.

Bookcase Design Hasn't Changed Much Over The Centuries

After the advent of the printing press, when average people began to be literate and own books, there were no such things as bookcases. People simply put their books in cupboards, sometimes taking the doors off for easy access. Eventually woodworkers started making freestanding bookcases like the ones we see today.

Many bookcases that require assembly come with adjustable shelves, allowing the owner to accommodate books of unusually large or small heights. These bookcases are not generally of the highest quality, however, and may not be as visually pleasing as some of the more expensive ones. They are usually perfectly functional, though.Wood is still by far the most common material used to make bookcases. It's sturdy, handsome and traditional. Libraries often use metal shelves, but these lack the aesthetic appeal that most people want for their homes. Bookcases made of granite, marble or other materials are on the market, but their expense prevents them from being widely used.Bookcase design is fairly simple, and most consumers still prefer the standard "look" for both form and function. People who have hundreds of books in their possession usually want something sturdy and simple, elegant perhaps, but mostly focused on the basic task of holding the books.Other bookcases are shaped in a modern, stylish fashion, with shelves of different sizes and lengths. These are often more useful as decor than as bookcases, as they don't actually hold very many books. But if you don't have many books (or knickknacks, picture frames, etc.) to display, one of these modern designs may complement your home nicely.

Many bookcases that require assembly come with adjustable shelves, allowing the owner to accommodate books of unusually large or small heights. These bookcases are not generally of the highest quality, however, and may not be as visually pleasing as some of the more expensive ones. They are usually perfectly functional, though.

Symphony Village Announces Immediate Availability of Puccini Inventory Home

CENTREVILLE, Md., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Puccini inventory home is immediately available for purchase and occupancy in Symphony Village, the active adult community in Centreville, according to Jeff Caruso, president of Caruso Homes, Crofton, Md.

Founded in Maryland in 1985, Caruso Homes is an award-winning home builder based in Crofton, Md., offering properties in communities throughout Maryland, including Symphony Village, an active adult community in Centreville. For information, call 1-800-570-2289, visit www.carusohomes.com, "like"Caruso Homes on Facebook or follow Caruso Homes on Twitter, www.twitter.com/carusohomes.> SOURCE Caruso HomesThe gracious and private owner's suite features a sitting room and box bay window. Other Puccini features include a screened porch, two car garage with the popular sky basement.To visit Symphony Village, take Route 50/301 East over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Continue on 50/301 over the Kent Narrows Bridge. Go 4 miles to 50/301 split. Take 301 North to Route 213 North, then right on Taylor Mill Road. For GPS and online map tracking, the address is 138 Symphony Way, Centreville, MD 21617. Sales Office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.About Caruso HomesSymphony Village offers active adults ages 55-plus the opportunity to enjoy a lifestyle unlike any other with the Symphony Club, a nearly 14,000-square-foot facility, taking center stage. The Symphony Club offers a large, well-equipped fitness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a billiards room, business center, card room, yoga studio, and an arts and crafts room. Also available are tennis courts, a community garden and walking trails.For more information about Symphony Village, call 1-866-766-0009 or visit www.symphonyvillage.com or the Symphony Village Facebook page.The popular Puccini, offering two bedrooms and two full baths, includes a living room and dining room as well as a large kitchen with maple cabinets, granite tops, stainless steel appliances, computer desk, island, and ceramic flooring. Immediately adjacent to the beautiful kitchen is the great room, complete with built-in bookcases, hardwood floors and a fireplace.

Founded in Maryland in 1985, Caruso Homes is an award-winning home builder based in Crofton, Md., offering properties in communities throughout Maryland, including Symphony Village, an active adult community in Centreville. For information, call 1-800-570-2289, visit www.carusohomes.com, "like"Caruso Homes on Facebook or follow Caruso Homes on Twitter, www.twitter.com/carusohomes. SOURCE Caruso Homes

Give Your Home Character With a Beautiful Bookcase

A good home needs good furniture to be complete. Quality furniture is the product of hard work and loving care, and the tradition of crafting quality furniture has been handed down over generations upon generations, perfected over millenia to give us the excellent pieces many of us currently enjoy in our homes. Of all the pieces of furniture we have in our homes, bookcases certainly occupy the most space on average, and the larger varieties would have to be among the most gargantuan pieces of furniture a person can have in their home. In fact, many are so incredibly formidable in size that they need to be brought into the home in pieces, assembled inside the designated room.

There are all kinds of bookcases to match different tastes and different home arrangements. Though traditionally there wasn't so much variation, today you can find barrister, ladder, wood or glass door, or even open bookcases. Of course, few things can compare to an antique oak bookcase: the quality and durability of the wood; the exactitude of the unions; the intricacy and detail in the craftsmanship are all details to be admired and prized. The mere value of an antique oak bookcase is enough for some people to want to have one in their home, but take a moment to think about whether or not the ones you come across will fit in nicely in your home. Will the colors combine well with the overall scheme of your home; does its size or dimensions present any possible problems; is it too short or too tall; etc. Don't rush into buying bookcases, but rather take your time until you come across just the right one. You'll know it when you do.In order to give your home character, it is absolutely essential to have at least a few top quality pieces of furniture, and the most dominant furniture in most people's homes (along with, say, the dining room table) would certainly have to be the bookcases. This particular piece of furniture reflects who we are, our tastes and level of education, more than any other, as the things we fill it with are incredibly telling about where we have been, what we do, what we know, and what we like. Bookcases are filled, more than with anything else, with books, of course; nonetheless, many people choose the bookcase as a place to display many other proud possessions, like family portraits, diplomas, mementos and trinkets, as well as gold and silver adornments. Yet, beyond what we fill it with, the quality of the piece of furniture in and of itself is perhaps the most telling thing of all.

Of course, if you plan to actually use your bookcase to store plenty of books and other items, make sure you are actually getting a solid item with strong planks, and not just some old piece of junk that will snap on you within the first few weeks of having things perched on its shelves. Though aesthetics are important, never forget to have functionality as a priority.

Author: Bill William

Penny Worley Auctioneers Conducts Online Auction of Furniture, Equipment and Decor From McDonough Georgia

MCDONOUGH, Ga., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Penny Worley Auctioneers (www.worleyauctioneers.com) announces the online auction of art, furniture, decor and equipment from Doral, Fla., according to Jerry Jenkins.

Study carrels feature a height adjustment facility making them suitable for a wide range of ages. Ergonomically designed for student comfort, they feature cable port management at the back for convenient cable access.The library is one of the most important rooms in a school. It's a place where children learn the reading and independent learning habits that will enrich their lives for years to come. This means comfortable and efficient library furniture is a must to allow students to find the books and study materials they want and then read and study with comfort and ease.Cube lockers are very popular. Welded and riveted for strength and durability, they can be stacked on top of each other for versatile arrangements. Plus they're coated with anti-bacterial powder coating solution for hygiene. You can also get them in low height, and with special formats for students with disabilities. Also available are a full range of wood and metal lockers containing from two to six doors.SOURCE Penny Worley AuctioneersForget the drab lockers of old; today's items come in a range of inspiring colours such as bright reds and glowing yellows. They also come in a wide range of shapes and sizes to suit any environment and age group.For more formal reading and note taking, study carrels are ideal; they take the form of desks with partitions on either side for privacy and to aid concentration.

SOURCE Penny Worley Auctioneers

Education Supplies for Effective Reading and Organisaton

Think of education supplies and what springs to mind? Desks and books and lesson charts, no doubt. These are at the heart of today's classrooms but other supplies such as library furniture and locker room furniture are also vitally important to the modern school.

Interior decor in this auction includes several very nice framed and matted art prints, etchings, photographs, ornate mirrors and metal wall art.Wedge tables offer you the ultimate flexibility for any environment. Crafted from duroform PU, you can get them in a range of breezy colours. Round library tables are useful in that they allow students to sit in groups for discussions and other activities.Other than bookcases, library tables need to be solid and durable. You can do no better than buy them crafted from oak or teak for a lifetime of use. Other than the standard rectangular shapes, you can get library tables in kidney, circular and wedge shapes.Bookcases and shelving are the staples of libraries and they come in a variety of sizes and forms. You can get them in metal and wood in a range of sizes and heights to fit rooms of any size. Wooden library shelves in beech, oak or maple are hardy and especially attractive.Other important education supplies are those which help keep things neat, tidy and organised. Examples are cloakroom storage units including such items as lockers, the locker room bench and various trolleys to hold personal items.Electronics, computer and networking equipment in this auction, includes: freestanding and rack-mounted battery backups, electronic calculators, IP telephones, switches, routers, rack mountable servers with Xeon processors, computer towers with pentium 4 and core 2 duo processors, laptops, all-in-one copiers, black and white and color laser printers, electric paper folder and flat-panel monitors.The online auction is open to the public. Bidders must register prior to bidding. Bidding ends June 29. Items are located in Doral, Fla. For more information, visit www.WorleyAuctioneers.com, or call Jerry Jenkins at (513) 313-9178 or text @FDIC to 52627.Other essential items of library furniture include reading corners and study carrels.The locker room bench comes in single and double sizes. You can get them in a range of colours to match your locker room walls and the lockers themselves. They're perfect to help pupils prepare for the school day and special classes such as PE and drama. Especially popular are benches with clear bin units underneath that allow students to store everything from shoes to games to classroom accessories.Young readers will appreciate book displays with clear pockets for storage and display. Low enough for young pupils to access easily, these are crafted from sturdy plastic in a range of vibrant colours.Also at auction is banking equipment like check validators, credit card processors, currency counters, check writer, teller intercom speakers and microphones, security cameras, monitors, DVR recorders, steel vaults, under counter cash drawers, safe deposit box system and a freestanding automated teller machine (ATM).There are a number of solid wood executive office desks, solid wood bookcases in cherry finish, solid wood lateral files in cherry finish, solid wood end tables and credenzas, appliances, filing cabinets, office equipment, solid wood-framed upholstered chairs, rolling office chairs, and appliances up for bids.Reading corners are groups of tables and chairs which can be arranged for groups of students to read in comfort. These items come in many forms to suit different ages. Examples are bean bags, eco tech cushions, standard armchairs and sofas and low chairs with plump comfy cushions, perfect for toddlers to read in comfort."All the assets will sell to the highest bidders during this online auction," Jenkins said. "We have over 360 lots of items up for bids, including several men's 10 carat gold and diamond rings."

For your complete range of quality education supplies such as library furniture and a locker room bench at the UK's best prices, visit the web sites of online vendors. Just make your choice from the illustrated lists of products and place your order for prompt delivery.

Author: Kathryn Dawson