A very cool couple reached out to AGI recently, interested in working with us to refresh their open-concept kitchen. I say refresh, because the kitchen layout works for this family, and the cabinets are in good condition - the family is just ready for a change in the look. A refresh can often be accomplished by painting existing cabinets, changing finishes like backsplash and countertops, and bringing in coordinating hardware and fixtures. When there's not a budget (or stomach!) for an full kitchen renovation, a refresh can be incredibly effective in creating the look of a new kitchen.
Then, we put together a package of suggested colors, finishes and fixtures, along with a room rendering to help them envision what their refreshed kitchen will look like.
From here, the clients will be able to hire a contractor with selections in hand, which will increase the turnaround time. Design services like this, where the client handles the coordination of tradespeople, and overseas the install of the design, are a nice option for clients who need some design assistance, but are comfortable managing the project. It's a good introduction to working with AGI.
If you or someone you know would like more information about our e-design services, please contact us at hello@alisongieseinteriors.com
North Korea said for the first time it had processed spent fuel rods that could be used to make nuclear bombs.
Despite this show of belligerence, Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su-hon said the isolated Communist state would not export its atomic capabilities
His comments, reported by China's Xinhua news agency on Thursday, would mark a major step in North Korea's nuclear programme since the rods could provide plutonium to make fissile material and had been sealed under a 1994 agreement with the United States.
Choe played down the chance of a new round of international talks on his country's nuclear programme, but a senior South Korean official said Pyongyang was prepared to attend six-way talks and brushed off a string of comments to the contrary by Pyongyang as a diplomatic tactic.
North Korea had already "processed 8,000 fuel rods" and had "changed the purpose of these fuel rods", Xinhua quoted Choe as saying, although he gave no details as to the new purpose.
"We have no intention of transferring any means of that nuclear deterrence to other countries," Choe told reporters at the North's mission to the United Nations in New York.
The United States has been increasingly anxious about whether reclusive North Korea has a nuclear weapon since it said a year ago it possessed enriched uranium and this year expelled UN inspectors, pulled out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and took its Yongbyon nuclear plant, where the rods are stored, out of mothballs.
"One thing we can tell you is that we are in possession of nuclear deterrence and we're continuing to strengthen that deterrence"
US officials have voiced fears North Korea might try to export its nuclear technology and say it could already have one or two nuclear devices. If it has processed the fuel rods, that could give North Korea access to enough plutonium eventually to produce as many as five or six devices.
Choe refused to disclose the scale of Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal, Xinhua said. "One thing we can tell you is that we are in possession of nuclear deterrence and we're continuing to strengthen that deterrence."
His remarks came as the United States and key Asian allies try to persuade Pyongyang to hold another round of six-way talks to resolve the tense deadlock.
Choe said his country had made no promises to participate in a second round of the talks, which also involve China, Russia, the United States, Japan and South Korea. The first round took place in Beijing in August.
"Certain mass media is circulating rumours as though we have just made promises to participate in the next round of the six-party talks," Choe said. "Unfortunately, this is not true."
However, US Assistant Secretary of State, James Kelly, Washington's pointman on North Korea, said this week the United States and its allies urging Pyongyang to return to the table and a round of talks in November was a possibility.
"North Korea is prepared to respond to six-way talks, and they are not in a position to oppose talks," South Korean Vice Unification Minister, Cho Kun-shik, told a briefing on Thursday.
"Since the United States has threatened the DPRK with nuclear weapons to launch a pre-emptive nuclear attack against the DPRK, we have no choice but to be in possession of the nuclear deterrence," Choe said, referring to the country by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Chavez referred to US allegations that his government has failed to prevent border incursions by Colombian rebels and paramilitaries.
The US state department's annual assessment of terrorism released last week said Venezuela "did not systematically police" the border.
It said both Colombian rebels and paramilitaries "regularly crossed into Venezuelan territory to rest and regroup as well as to extort protection money".
A lack of transparency in official statistics makes it unclear when China last announced such a low rate of increase in its defence spending.
However, Thursday's rise is the slowest in at least a decade, and less than half of the 15.9 per cent average rate of increase from 1999 to 2008, according to figures reported last year by state-run media.
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the world's largest standing military with more than 2.3 million members.
But the government's publically stated figures on military expenditure are widely viewed as under-representing actual spending, with some key military programmes kept off the official books.
Announcing the new budget Li told reporters that the increase will be used to enhance China's ability "to meet various threats".
"China is committed to peaceful development and a military posture that is defensive in nature," he said.
Li added that this year's defence budget remained low in relation to the country's vast territory and population.
He said that the spending accounted for about 1.4 percent of gross domestic product in recent years, as opposed to more than four per cent in the United States and more than two per cent in Britain, France and Russia.
Rapid military modernisation and the acquisition of jet fighters, advanced warships and submarines have aroused suspicions by some international powers over China's intentions.
Beijing's growing diplomatic assertiveness and the country's booming economic might have also raised concerns.
Officials have said that about one-third of China's spending goes to salaries and improving living conditions for soldiers, with the rest split between replacing equipment and military research and development.
Li said the new budget would help China "face multi-faceted military threats (and) improve capabilities for diverse military tasks".
Rival Palestinian fighters had earlier clashed at three locations, breaching a previous ceasefire that had been agreed on Sunday.
Abbas also said that the Palestinian police and the Executive Force, led by Siad Siam, the Hamas interior minister, would enforce the ceasefire.
"Armed men will no longer be allowed to circulate on the streets of the Gaza Strip," he told Palestinian television.
Members of the Executive Force would return to the positions they had held on Saturday before the renewed outbreak of fighting between Hamas and Fatah forces, he said.
Siam said that roadblocks thrown up in the past few days would be removed and that anyone captured in the fighting would be released.
"This people will remain united in the face of occupation and aggression and will not be derailed by internal struggles," the Hamas leader said during a televised address in Gaza City, before Abbas's announcement.
The clashes between Hamas and Fatah supporters broke out after Abbas, who heads Fatah, called at the weekend for early elections.
But Haniya also made conciliatory gestures to Abbas, urging his interior minister to convene a meeting of rival security chiefs to discuss ways to calm the situation and reiterating a call for a long-term truce with Israel.
Arsenal lost their first game of the season and saw their lead in the English Premiership League slashed to a solitary point, after a spirited Middlesbrough outfit upset Arsene Wenger's side 2-1 on Teeside.
Goals from local product Stewart Downing and Turkish international Tuncay Sanli gave the home side their first win in any competition since September 1 much to the relief of manager Gareth Southgate.
In other results, Bolton beat Wigan 4-1 for their biggest win this season, Tottenham defeated Manchester City 2-1 with a late goal from Jermain Defoe, and West Ham beat host Blackburn 1-0.
After 15 matches Arsenal still lead the league with 37 points, followed by Manchester United with 36 and Chelsea with 34.
Middlesbrough scored in the fourth minute with a penalty kick from Downing, who sent Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia the wrong way.
The spot kick was awarded after Arsenal defender Kolo Toure brought down former teammate Jeremie Aliadiere in the penalty box.
The young Frenchman had used his famed speed to burn past Toure and force the Ivorian into a rash challenge.
In the 74th, 'Boro had a deserved second goal when Sanli scored into the corner with a rebound after Almunia had pushed away a shot from Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil.
In injury time Rosicky turned in a cross from Gael Clichy in injury time, which maintained the Gunners record of having scored a goal in every Premier League match this season.
Middlesbrough's physical approach prompted Wenger to replace Eduardo da Silva with the taller Nicklas Bendtner at halftime, and Theo Walcott and Denilson with 30 minutes remaining, but the Gunners still struggled.
"I felt Arsenal having three games in a week was a tall order for them and thought it might be a good day to get them."
The calendar does not look any clearer for Arsenal, which drew 1-1 with Newcastle four days ago, as they now face Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Arsenal had been the only unbeaten club in the Premier League after Liverpool lost to Reading 3-1 on Saturday.
Kevin Davies scored from a free kick from El Hadji Diouf in the 70th and Anelka wrapped up the win in the 89th.
Tottenham won its third game this season when Defoe scored with a rebound in the 83rd minute after Steed Malbranque's shot had hit the post.
A minute before, Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland was sent off for a challenge on Lee Young-pyo.
Dean Ashton, who had come on as a substitute at halftime, scored for West Ham in the 52nd after George McCartney had cut the ball back to him.
West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green preserved the win by saving a shot from Tugay Kerimoglu at close range in the 88th.
"The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 is a dreadful piece of legislation that, if approved, will further the unconscionable destruction of preborn persons," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "The continual misinformation about human embryonic stem cell research offered by those who wish to encourage such 'science' does not change the fact that terminating the lives of innocent human embryos for research is ethically and morally corrupt."
Congress will attempt to put the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 up for a vote in short order, possibly as soon as this Thursday in the House. The measure allows for expanded funding for the destruction of human beings through human embryonic stem cell research. Congress had approved a comparable bill in 2006, but it was vetoed by President Bush.
Brown said one of the most frustrating parts of the embryonic stem cell debate is the propaganda pushed on the American public. "From many of the media reports and the politicians, one would think that killing preborn babies through human embryonic stem cell research is the only way to obtain these cells; but that conclusion is absolutely wrong," said Brown. "In fact, there are viable and effective alternatives to human embryonic stem cell research being employed as we speak. Stem cells obtained from amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood and adult tissues are but three of the morally acceptable avenues that have shown great promise.
"Americans must speak up now to put a halt to this sanctioned killing," said Brown. "We can never build a true culture of life when we allow the most vulnerable and innocent of our society to be sacrificed."