Latest news with #Ashdown
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Raleigh mom, 4 young children die in fiery crash on I-95 in Georgia during trip to see husband
RALEIGH, N.C. (WSAV/WNCN) — A 27-year-old North Carolina mother and her four young children were killed Sunday morning in a Georgia crash after leaving Raleigh, according to the Georgia State Patrol. The two-car crash happened around 6 a.m. along Interstate 95 near exit 67 in McIntosh County, about 35 miles south of Savannah, Georgia. The crash happened in the southbound lanes when the SUV containing the mother and children collided with a car also headed south, officials said. The SUV with the family inside burst into flames following the crash, officials said. According to Georgia State Troopers, 27-year-old Reagan Dougan and her four children, ages 9, 4, 2, and 3 months, died. Sunday afternoon, family members told CBS 17 that the Dougans are North Carolina residents. Dougan rented a new-style Jeep Grand Cherokee in Raleigh and was driving to Florida to meet her husband, who has been notified, Georgia officials said. Reagan Dougan's family said she was taking the children to meet up with her husband, who was visiting friends in Florida. The passenger in the other vehicle, a white Infiniti sedan, was taken to the hospital. There was no word about that person's condition. Video from the scene showed a burned car crashed beside a median guardrail under an overpass. Images indicated a white car stopped in the center lane nearby with heavy rear damage. The wreck happened while the Jeep SUV was traveling south in the left lane, said Georgia State Trooper Christopher Ashdown. A witness in a car that was passed by the SUV said it was ' traveling at a high rate of speed,' Ashdown said. The SUV then crashed into the rear of the sedan with the SUV bursting into flames following the crash, he said. 'Seeing how hard the impact was obviously caused the SUV to ignite,' Ashdown said. The sedan hit a center guardrail and then stopped in a travel lane, he said. The southbound lanes of I-95 were closed for several hours. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Yahoo
Two-car crash on I-95 in McIntosh County leaves mother and four children dead Sunday
A mother and four children are dead following a two-vehicle accident Sunday on Interstate 95 in McIntosh County. The driver of a Jeep Cherokee was traveling south, near mile marker 62, when it rear ended an Infiniti sedan at about 6 a.m., according to Georgia State Patrol Trooper Christopher Ashdown. The vehicle veered into the left lane, striking a guard rail and then burst into flames. The driver, Reagan Dougan, 27, was traveling with her children ages 3 months; 2, 4 and 9 years old. Ashdown declined to release the names of the children. Ashdown said the Jeep Cherokee was a rental from Raleigh, N.C., and the family was en route to an unknown location in Florida. Ashdown was unable to provide where Dougan and the children resided. The driver of the Infiniti, who has not been identified, was transported to a hospital in Brunswick with injuries that were not life-threatening, Ashdown said. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Mother and four children die in fatal accident on I-95 after car burns
Telegraph
07-03-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Nine bathroom design mistakes and how to avoid them
A bathroom overhaul is a major undertaking, one littered with design conundrums: how much storage can you fit in? What kind of flooring is not slippery when wet? Should you have two sinks or one? Where should you place the bath, basin or shower? The list is long, and every decision you make you may regret each day thereafter, when you step into the shower and lament why the towels are so far from the shower door, why you didn't incorporate more lighting, or whether that marble flooring really was a must. With that in mind, we asked the design experts to reveal the most common bathroom-design mistakes they come across, and their advice for what to do instead. Getting storage wrong 'Our biggest request from clients is storage,' says Louise Ashdown at West One Bathrooms. Having enough is key to a zenful bathroom experience, as without it, the room will feel cluttered and uncomfortable; however, Ashdown remarks, we often think we need more storage than we use, so her advice is to take an inventory of the products you need to store to help you plan the most practical storage options. 'Choose a vanity unit with a mix of drawers and cabinets to help you organise daily essentials and supplies,' says designer Portia Fox. Carly Allison, head of product design at Fired Earth, advises considering a wall-mounted unit to create a more open feel in a smaller bathroom. For designer Alicia Meireles of Own London, bespoke joinery is the most important element of bathroom storage. 'Even if it might seem to make the room feel smaller, it is vital to put away everything that usually creeps in: towels, cleaning products, loo roll and a multitude of beauty products,' she says. 'Only leave the most beautiful things on display; it will make all the difference.' Budget tip If you lack the funds for a built-in vanity unit, a small, slimline trolley (such as Ikea's Råskog, £25) can be squeezed in to organise bottles and spare towels Råskog, £25, Ikea Bad lighting choices Despite using bathroom lighting every single day, most of us rarely give a second thought as to where to place lights, assuming the ceiling will do. But if you want to leave your bathroom ready for the world, without a toothpaste stain or stray hair in sight, effective lighting is essential: overhead lights alone can be too harsh in a room with lots of hard surfaces, such as tiles and glass, creating a clinical effect while casting unsightly contours. When it comes to looking your most attractive, side lighting is your best friend, says Charlie Bowles of lighting company Original BTC: 'Flanking mirrors with a pair of wall lights will avoid unflattering shadows on the face, allowing you to shave or apply makeup like a pro.' Wall lights on a dimmer switch allow you to set the mood, whether you're getting ready for work in the morning or relaxing in the bath in the evening. 'Mood lighting can transform the room,' agrees designer Jo Sangster of Ripples London. 'Modern touches like LED strip lighting give you the flexibility to adjust the colour temperature of your lighting as the day unfolds, marrying practicality with a chic, contemporary feel.' Budget tip If your bathroom lighting is too harsh, a portable lamp (with an IP rating of at least 44) can be brought in to set the mood in the evening; try Nordlux's Bring To-Go outdoor light, £24.95, from John Lewis) Nordlux's Bring To-Go outdoor light, £24.95, John Lewis Poor layout One thing the designers all agree on: don't place your loo in view of the doorway. It's crucial to consider the layout of utilities at the beginning, as is considering that first view when you enter the room (and from outside when the door is open), says Chloe Cutts, designer at Sims Hilditch. 'Ideally, you want to have a clear view of your vanity unit or bath, before the loo,' she says. 'A symmetrical layout is a good option, as is aligning your focal point – such as the bathtub – with an architectural element like a window. Choosing a focal point is a great place to start; a free-standing bath or vanity unit can make a luxurious centrepiece.' Another common layout mistake is 'trying to cram too much into a small space', says Barrie Cutchie, design director at BC Designs. 'In order to have a separate shower and bath, plus the loo and basin, you need a bathroom of at least 1.7m x 3m.' Ignoring ventilation and humidity Mould and mildew are the dark underbelly of an under-ventilated bathroom, creating extra work and cleaning problems to solve. The solution, according to Sangster, is to incorporate unobtrusive ventilation right from the start. 'Discreet extractor fans on the ceiling will help to keep humidity levels at bay; make sure they are installed near the bath or shower,' she says. 'Windows alone are insufficient,' agrees Fox. She also advises paying attention to your window treatments: 'Opt for moisture-resistant fabrics like polyester-linen blends to avoid discolouration and mould growth.' Budget tip If your bathroom blind has become discoloured due to humidity, consider replacing it with a bathroom-appropriate window film – Purlfrost's costs £22 per square metre Window film, £22 per square metre, Purlfrost Choosing the wrong materials There is a shift, according to Meireles, away from fluted tiles – which have been trending, but are hard to keep clean – back to simple, classic slabs and zellige tiles. 'Cement tiles are both beautiful and durable, says Lee Thornley, founder of Bert & May, 'and can be used to create a bathroom with style, that is also functional.' 'Choosing the wrong materials comes down to a lack of understanding of the maintenance required and whether a material works in a bathroom,' says Cutchie. 'There is love for marble, for example, but although it is the height of luxury, it is a porous, soft stone that is highly susceptible to staining, etching from acidic products, and water absorption if not properly sealed.' Budget tip As a less expensive alternative, marble-effect porcelain tiles combine the low-maintenance durability of porcelain with the beauty of marble (try Walls & Floors, from £17.95 per square metre) Marble-effect porcelain tiles, £17.95 per square metre, Walls & Floors Mismatched hardware Don't underestimate the importance of hardware – i.e. taps, fixtures and handles. To achieve a cohesive look, advises Fox, 'Choose fixtures, taps, towel bars, and accessories from the same supplier to maintain a consistent finish.' Allison says don't combine more than two brassware finishes, 'to avoid creating a space that feels disjointed. Instead, pairing polished and matt e finishes of the same metal for a modern look.' Budget tip While brass has been the fashionable finish for taps for some time, designers have noted that polished chrome – a far more budget-friendly option – is back on trend Neglecting colour and texture 'I like bathrooms to feel like living spaces, says designer Tiffany Duggan of Studio Duggan 'I'm not a fan of cold, clinical bathrooms fully tiled with porcelain and chrome. We like to buy vintage mirrors and repurpose them into concealed medicine cabinets. Plants are a bathroom's best friend, and it's these finishing touches which are key to good bathroom design.' Sangster's advice is to consider a bold accent wall, patterned tiles or a colourful tub. Even if your bathroom is on the smaller side, there's scope to experiment with colour and texture. 'Traditionally, keeping the decor simple with light, neutral tones would be the way forward to give the illusion of space,' says Cutts, 'however, injecting darker, bolder, and more tactile textures and colours can create the same effect, especially when incorporating well-considered lighting and mirrors.' Budget tip If you have an all-white bathroom that lacks warmth, bring in colour and texture with towels and bath mats: John Lewis' (from £5) come in 21 different colours Getting the flooring wrong Flooring needs to withstand a busy environment that is often wet and damp, so steer clear of wooden flooring, advises Fox. 'Bathrooms require water-resistant, durable materials to withstand humidity. Avoid timber, it is prone to warping and damage in damp conditions,' advises Thornley. If you opt for tiles, pay attention to your choice of finish: high-shine, glossy tiles or smooth marble can be slippery when wet. Instead, with natural stone, look for a honed or textured finish. 'Porcelain tiles are strong and water-resistant, as are matte and textured tiles, which are better choices for the floor,' adds Thornley. Budget tip Fake the look of an expensive floor with Ruggable's Bianco Marble bath mat, £139, which comes in two layers: a non-slip underlay and a removable cover that fits in the washing machine Bianco marble bath mat, £139, Ruggable Making the basin unit too small Don't forget the toothbrush – and the toothpaste, floss, razor, soap, comb and cloth – when selecting a basin. For comfort and ease of use, make sure there is plenty of countertop space around it for the items you use every day. 'Downsizing on basins can lead to a bathroom that feels uncomfortable to use, especially if there isn't enough storage space surrounding it. Ensure the functionality of your bathroom by choosing a basin with generous depth,' says Allison. Budget Tip A wall-mounted shelf near the basin will add useful extra storage if there isn't space in the bathroom for a large countertop: Nkuku's Olani shelf, £45, comes in chic antique brass
