Chic Apartments

People who have an antique or two, either as family heirlooms or through extensive search and buying knows these furnishings need a lot of work in terms of care to maintain their beauty and integrity. One of the worst enemy of antique wooden furniture is UV light which comes from the sun or the halogen light fixtures you may have around the home. Avoid exposing them to such light sources by using curtains on your windows and by using diffusers on light fixtures to minimize fading, ruining the look and the value of your furniture. Read the rest of this entry »

There is no match for the beauty and longevity of wood when it comes to furniture for if you treat it well and give it a splash or two of paint/varnish from time to time, it’ll last forever. Most wooden furniture will get a beating with normal use but for some it is the spice or what gives a certain furniture character that makes it unique in it’s own right. The nick when your child first walked and tipped the vase. The knock from you’re child’s toys and more are records of your life and can be used for memories, besides they make good story time references when you’re talking with your grandchildren. Read the rest of this entry »

Have an old chest that you simply can;t throw away for it’s been in the family for ages? Why not give it a face lift with some photos or maps you may have lying around from your previous vacation. Or better yet, why not get hold of a couple of maps, brochures or anything else made of paper that can be stuck and varnished over to give your old wooden chest a new look. Choose your theme and collate your materials, laying them out on the floor so you can be sure you can cover the whole chest. Use wood glue to stick your photos and other materials, weighing them down if possible to ensure a tight fit. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most untapped resources for great finds for your pad are flea markets. Flea markets showcase a whole variety of items you can put in your apartment. Here are a few tips when going to a flea market:

1. Bring small bills.
Small bills give you more bargaining power.

2. Come early.
The early bird gets the worm, they say, and if you come early, you’ll get to have the best pickings. Once you see people carrying off lamps and picture frames, then you’re late, and probably won’t find much.

3. Dress casual.
Don’t go all dressed up, because vendors and sells WILL jack their prices up for someone who looks like he or she has money to spend. Wear simple and comfy clothes.

4. Make a list of what you’re looking for.
This will prevent you from getting sidetracked and buying things you don’t really need.

There are a lot of homes that claim to be chic, but what really is chic? May it look good or be at par with current design trends, you are the one who decides if your home or apartment is chic. Give it a personal look you can live with and not just to impress guests. You live in the place so a place that is well decorated should be one you’d love to be in. Get furnishings that are both decorative yet serve their purpose and are not for mere display. Remember, another man’s trash is another man’s gold, the adage applies to furnishings you buy simply because you like the looks but rarely uses due to say an uncomfortable cushion or some other factor.
Green is in, as long as you are willing to make the sacrifices they entail. Those wash basins that sit atop the toilet, they require some additional cleaning for the gunk tends to accumulate in the catch tank where the wash water is stored. Living green is a commitment and not a fad so be real and do only what you can sustain or live with for the long run.

A mainstay of the apartment culture, compressed wood fiber products from tables, chairs to counter-tops are cheaper that solid wood furniture. But recent studies that such furniture have a nasty ability to release volatile organic compounds or VOC’s in the form of solvents and binders used in manufacturing. The new furniture smell is an indicator that some of the solvents leaking out of the furniture and into your home. In a confined space, it would be dangerous so ensure proper ventilation should you have any furniture made of such materials.
It is a good idea to donate old furniture should you not need them anymore so they stay out of the trash pits for a greener tomorrow. They can also be quite a fire hazard for the small wood chips combined with extremely flammable solvents makes for one hot smoldering flame resulting in extremely hot flames.

Image Source: img2.timeinc.ne

Don’t put your house in the market unless you have at least given it a fresh coat of paint. Luxuriant colors like deep taupe and burgundy can make a room exude with elegance and sophistication. Bold colors like mustard yellow or aqua are usually used on accessories or pillows on the bed. Whatever color of paint you select, make sure it matches with the trim and flooring. A pile of pillows on the bed is a statement of rest and comfort. Update your beddings with a matching bed skirt too at the least cost. A bed skirt can hide an exposed bed frame elegantly. To create an ambiance that oozes with warmth, strategically place scented candles around the room and group tea lights to add soft light.

写真提供:blogs.move.com

• カラフルな情報パンフレットを考えて、印刷しあらゆる層の顧客 を見つける立場にいる人達に配って下さい。見込み客とは書式での連絡や電話での会話全てに、明るい感じで親切に接して下さい。
• これはビジネスですから、予約、予約金請求、差額支払い、チェックイン/チェックアウト、ペット、喫煙に関する方針など、全ての処理を形式化するのが良いでしょう。
• あなたはホストであって、家主ではないことを念頭に置いて下さい。 初めてのゲストがチェックインする前に、彼らは素敵な家に招かれたお客様であるのだと感じてもらって下さい。そうすれば、あなたとあなたの家を適切に扱ってくれるでしょう。

分譲マンションの場合、空間が限られているので室内装飾は少々困難です。 以下は貴方の家をスタイリッシュにするヒントの幾つかです。

空間が流れるような錯覚を作るように、軽いニュートラルな色を選んでください。 貴方の好きな鮮明な色を選びたくなるでしょうが、その衝動を抑えてください。 濃く、暗い色は狭い部屋を余計に狭く見せます。 その代わりアクセサリーを使い、あなたの部屋に魅力を付け加えてください。
インテリアのテーマを選び、それを守ってください。 違ったスタイルの部屋を複数持つほど散らかって見えることはありません。 例として、モダンなミニマリスト（マンションやアパートに適するスタイル）を採用するなら、空間の全体にそれを適用してください。
デザインの一つのトリックとして鏡を使うことがあります。 鏡は装飾するだけではなく、空間を広く見せる錯覚を与えます。

Image Source:blogs.move.com

• Come up with colorful informative brochures, print and distribute them to anyone in a position to find all sorts of guests. Keep all of your written communication and telephone conversations with potential clients upbeat and friendly.
• This is a business, so it is a good idea to formalize all your procedures like reservations, deposit requirements, balance payments, check-in/check-out, pets, smoking policies and the like.
• Consider yourself a host and not a landlord. Prior to your first client checking in, make them feel like they really are guests in your wonderful home, and they will treat you and your house appropriately.